2024 Reds Draft Preview: Scouting Report JJ Wetherholt.
Last Monday we took a quick overview type of look at the upcoming 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. The Cincinnati Reds hold the #2 pick in the draft and as noted earlier this week, there really seems to be a group of five players who have seemingly separated themselves. Today we’re taking a look at the scouting report on one of the top guys eligible for this year’s draft.
JJ Wetherholt Scouting Report
Background Information
Height: 5′ 10″ | Weight: 190 lbs | Born: September 10, 2002
Bats: Left | Throws: Right | School: West Virginia
As a freshman he was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. In 2023 he was an All-American, All-Big 12 First Team, and the Big 12 Player of the Year.
Entering the year, JJ Wetherholt was the top draft prospect for multiple publications. A combination of his hamstring injury that kept him off of the field for a while and performance from others moved him back ever so slightly.
The 2023 season was a breakout one for Wetherholt. In 55 games with West Virginia he hit .449/.517/.787 with more walks (26) than strikeouts (22). That came with 42 extra-base hits. In 2024 he lost more than a month to a hamstring injury – an injury that’s plagued him for the last year as he also dealt with it last summer. He would play in 36 games this year and while he hit quite well, he didn’t match what he did in 2023. His .331/.472/.589 line was coupled with 16 extra-base hits, 30 walks, and 17 strikeouts.
When looking at everyone in the draft it’s hard to argue that anyone has a better hit tool than Wetherholt does. He’s short and quick to the ball and he makes contact at an elite rate. He has solid power with a chance for slightly above-average pop at his peak. When healthy he’s got above-average speed and can use it on the bases well.
Defensively there are some questions about whether he could possibly play shortstop or not. That’s where he played the first two weeks of the season before he was injured, but he hadn’t played there previously. And after he returned from his hamstring injury he didn’t look like a future big league shortstop, but he was also clearly not 100% recovered from the injury, either. Most believe he winds up at second base, which is where he’s been for the most part in college.
His physical size is probably close to being maxed out, so you aren’t likely going to see him getting bigger or all that much stronger. But the bat still looks like it’s one of the best in the class and should play well in all aspects. Among the other top hitters, it’s Wetherholt who has the best defensive value, too, even if he is just a second baseman.
