Three numbers define JJ Wetherholt's stellar first half
St. Louis Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt has defined his breakout 2026 first half with three standout metrics—3.8 fWAR, 18 outs above average, and a +3 baserunning run value—and he showcased that all-around game at Wrigley Field on July 4, homering on the first pitch before thick fog forced a delay and shut down MLB's ABS challenge system.
Key Takeaways
- Wetherholt's 3.8 fWAR ranks sixth in MLB and third among NL position players through 83 games.
- He leads all defenders with 18 outs above average and is on pace for the second-best OAA season since 2015.
- His +3 baserunning run value ties for 12th in MLB, beyond his nine stolen bases.
- At foggy Wrigley Field, he homered on Shota Imanaga's first pitch and finished with three hits in a 3-0 Cardinals win.
- Dense fog halted play for 15 minutes and rendered the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system non-operational.
What three numbers define Wetherholt's breakout rookie season?
As the All-Star break approaches, MLB.com highlights three figures behind Wetherholt's impact despite missing the All-Star Game. Through 83 games, his 3.8 fWAR ranks sixth in the Majors and third among National League position players.
Offensively, he carries a .269/.364/.416 slash line with 13 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 54 runs scored—20% above MLB average by wRC+. Defensively, he leads all Major League defenders with 18 outs above average, ranks fifth in defensive runs saved (14), and has committed just two errors among qualified second basemen.
The third pillar is baserunning. Wetherholt's +3 baserunning run value ties for 12th in MLB, reflecting extra bases and smart decisions beyond his nine stolen bags.
How did Wetherholt perform at Wrigley Field on July 4?
The holiday showdown at Wrigley Field began with boos from 38,872 fans—and ended with Wetherholt silencing the crowd on the first pitch. He crushed a 90.4 mph Shota Imanaga fastball into the left-field basket for a leadoff home run, his fourth from the top spot and a Cardinals rookie record.
Wetherholt added a two-out double in the fifth and an opposite-field single in the seventh, reaching base in four of five plate appearances for his seventh three-hit game. Kyle Leahy tossed five scoreless innings as St. Louis beat Chicago 3-0 for its fifth win in six games.
Why did fog at Wrigley Field shut down MLB's ABS system?
Rain delayed the first pitch by roughly 57 minutes, and fog rolled in during the second inning before thickening through the sixth. By the end of that frame, the center field scoreboard was barely visible at Wrigley Field.
Wetherholt told umpires, "We can't see the ball," according to Yahoo Sports. When catcher Pedro Pages challenged a ball call on Ian Happ's 0-0 pitch, the Hawk-Eye system could not track it through the fog. The umpire ruled the ABS challenge system was "not operational at the moment," and play resumed after a 15-minute delay with St. Louis ahead 2-0.
What does his first half mean for the Cardinals?
Wetherholt will not join teammate Jordan Walker and manager Oliver Marmol in Philadelphia on July 14, but his blend of offense, defense, and baserunning has anchored a lineup that beat the Cubs twice at Wrigley in consecutive nights—a 17-run explosion Friday and a pitching-driven 3-0 win Saturday.
For fans tracking how technology and real-world conditions collide—similar to fintech and crypto alerts surfacing market-moving signals—the fogged-out ABS system was a reminder that automated review tools still depend on clear sightlines.