dailyloe.com – Baseball season has started following the end of spring training last week. The St. Louis Cardinals’ top prospect, JJ Wetherholt, has made his Major League debut. His promotion is having a direct impact on the sports card collecting market. This development is significant for fans and collectors following his career.
JJ Wetherholt was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. That draft class included other top prospects like Nick Kurtz and Chase Burns. Konnor Griffin was the number one overall prospect in that draft. Wetherholt was considered a potential first overall pick before the draft.
He slid to the Cardinals after dealing with injuries during his draft year. Wetherholt made a full recovery from those injuries. He then enjoyed a strong first professional season in the minor leagues. Unlike some peers, his Topps product debut did not occur until Bowman 2025.
He was among the top chase cards in the 2025 Bowman product. His promotion and strong start mean good things for collectors. Collectors looking to sell some of his cards may benefit. His hobby market is also helped by being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals are considered a premium team with a strong fan base. After it was announced he made the team, Wetherholt card sales saw an expected bump. For example, his Bowman Chrome base autograph cards were selling for about $220 in February. This data comes from 130Point and CardLadder sales figures from the start of spring training.
That same card is now selling for approximately $300. It is currently a seller’s market for his cards. This could change if his performance levels off. It could also change if he goes through expected rookie struggles.
Even if that happens, a bounce back from Wetherholt is expected. He has the skill set and talent to navigate those challenges. He is believed to reward fans and collectors who stay the course. His debut is a key moment for the 2026 baseball season.[]
Source: Yahoo Sports
