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JJ Wetherholt: A New Chapter at the KeystoneThere are moments in spring training when you can feel the organization subtly turning a page. This feels like one of them.With the offseason departures of veterans and a reshaped infield picture, the focus in Jupiter has quickly centered on JJ Wetherholt. The Cardinals’ top prospect hasn’t just arrived in camp; he’s arrived with purpose.Early in Grapefruit League play, Wetherholt has already shown why evaluators place a 65 grade on his hit tool. The at-bats have been balanced, controlled, and mature beyond his years. He’s not guessing. He’s not flailing. He’s working counts and drawing walks, the kind of approach that translates.On February 23 against Miami, he offered a glimpse of something else: instincts. Scoring from third on a throwing error to second base in the fourth inning, he tied the game not with brute force but with awareness. Those little plays win big games in September.Manager Oli Marmol slotted him fifth in the lineup during the opener on February 21, but conversations around camp suggest leadoff could eventually be home. With his on-base skills (.421 OBP across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025), 23 stolen bases, and advanced pitch recognition, it’s not hard to envision him setting the table.Defensively, the Cardinals are being intentional. While second base — the keystone — appears to be the primary focus, Wetherholt is also likely to receive reps at shortstop if he's needed their for spot starts. That kind of versatility has become a necessity in modern roster construction, and Wetherholt seems eager to embrace it.His 2025 minor league campaign laid the groundwork: a .306/.421/.510 slash line, 17 home runs, 59 RBI, and recognition as the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year. That’s production, not projection. President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom has praised his poise and leadership—qualities that can’t be quantified but certainly matter inside a clubhouse.There’s always caution when handing expectations to a young player. But sometimes you can tell when the moment isn’t too big.Wetherholt doesn’t look overwhelmed. He looks ready.If this spring is any indication, the Cardinals may not just be filling a vacancy at second base — they may be turning the keystone over to their next cornerstone. Graphic - by the Cardinal Chronical

Turning the Page at Second

The Arms Race Inside the Battle for the Cardinals’ RotationEvery spring, radar guns light up and optimism runs high. But rotation jobs aren’t won by velocity readings in February. They’re earned through command, durability, and trust.The Cardinals enter this season with more candidates than chairs. Five starters will take the ball every turn — possibly six — and the competition isn’t about promise anymore. It’s about performance.The Individual BattlesMatthew Liberatore -The conversation around Liberatore has shifted. It’s no longer about projection; it’s about production. The left-hander has shown stretches where he looks like a steady mid-rotation arm, commanding the fastball and finishing hitters with his breaking ball. Projection systems such as ZiPS and PECOTA view him as serviceable — an ERA hovering in the low 4.00s with average strikeout totals. That’s useful. But the Cardinals need him to pitch with conviction, not caution. His battle is consistency. When he throws strike one, he controls the inning. When he falls behind, the margin narrows quickly.Michael McGreevy - McGreevy’s profile is built on composure and control. He doesn’t overpower hitters, and the projection models don’t forecast dominance. They see durability and contact management — a starter capable of keeping a team in games if the defense supports him. Last season showed both the promise and the limits of that approach. The key this spring is simple: he's added a slider to his mix and the question is can he miss just enough bats to avoid constant traffic? If he can, he becomes a stabilizer. If not, he walks a tightrope every outing.Andre Pallante - Pallante’s sinker gives him a foundation. When it’s right, it produces ground balls in bunches. As a reliever, that’s been an asset. As a starter, the challenge is navigating lineups the third time through. The projections are modest — useful innings, average run prevention. His path into the rotation depends on efficiency and limiting free passes. He doesn’t need to reinvent himself. He needs to sustain effectiveness deeper into games.Dustin May - May changes the equation — if he’s healthy. His projections carry more swing-and-miss upside than the rest of the group, but they’re cautious with innings for a reason. When available, he profiles as one of the top arms in the mix. The question is availability. The Cardinals don’t just need flashes of dominance; they need dependable turns every fifth day. If he gives them volume, he likely secures a front-line role within this group.Richard Fitts - The quiet competitor in the room. Projection systems don’t paint him as an ace, but they do see strike-throwing ability and poise. In a crowded field, that matters. He’s not competing for headlines — he’s competing for trust. And sometimes in March, trust carries more weight than pedigree.&nbsp;The 5-Man vs. 6-Man Rotation QuestionHovering over the competition is a practical decision: five starters or six?A traditional five-man rotation demands clear separation. The fifth starter must earn the job outright. But a six-man alignment changes the threshold. It becomes less about dominance and more about durability and strike-throwing.For a staff with health questions and younger arms whose innings may need managing, a six-man rotation offers protection. It spreads workload, preserves arms early, and may pay dividends late. It also opens the door for that fifth or sixth starter who proves steady rather than spectacular.But there’s a cost. A six-man rotation shortens the bullpen and limits flexibility. If one arm struggles, the margin tightens quickly. This isn’t a philosophical decision. It’s a structural one.The Cardinals must decide whether to rely on five to carry the weight — or trust that protection in April builds strength in September.&nbsp;This is the arms race in St. Louis. Not a race for radar readings. Not a contest of prospect rankings. A competition measured in strike one percentages, efficiency, and resilience. The projection systems offer their estimates. Last year’s numbers provide caution. But spring will reveal something more important: which arms can be trusted when the games count.Championship rotations don’t always overpower. They out-execute.

The Arms Race - Inside the Battle for the Rotation

This Date in St. Louis Cardinals History February 24, 1943With World War II reshaping the country — and professional baseball — the St. Louis Cardinals were forced into a decision that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years earlier.On this date in 1943, the Cardinals reduced their expansive farm system from 21 minor league affiliates to just seven. The organization that had become the gold standard in player development — first constructed under Branch Rickey — suddenly found itself trimming to wartime survival levels.The war had drained baseball’s talent pool. Hundreds of major and minor league players entered military service. Stars such as Enos Slaughter were called away. Travel restrictions tightened. Minor leagues folded or suspended operations. Even the Cardinals’ mighty farm network could not escape reality.Reducing from 21 affiliates to seven was not philosophy. It was necessity.And yet, what followed speaks volumes about the strength of the organization.The very next day, the Cardinals placed an advertisement in The Sporting News, seeking players. It was scouting at its most direct. No analytics departments. No showcases. Just an open call for ballplayers in a nation at war.Despite the strain, St. Louis did not crumble.Under manager Billy Southworth, the Cardinals posted three consecutive 100-win seasons from 1942 through 1944 — capturing three National League pennants and two World Series championships during that span. The 1942 and 1944 clubs brought titles to St. Louis, while the 1943 team continued its dominance with another pennant-winning campaign.The farm system had been reduced. The roster had been thinned. The world was at war.But the foundation held.Baseball adjusted. The Cardinals adapted. And even with two-thirds of their developmental empire temporarily dismantled, the structure — and the standard — of what would later be known as “The Cardinal Way” endured. Background Research Sources - HistoryofCardinals.com &nbsp;

Help Wanted - Must Provide Own Glove & Bat

In the Spotlight<h3>Andre Pallante – First Spring Start </h3>When the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Washington Nationals Tuesday night in West Palm Beach, the spotlight belongs to Andre Pallante.It’s his first start of the spring.And for Pallante, that matters.At this point in camp, radar readings are nice. Scoreboard results are fine. But what the Cardinals need to see is conviction — fastball command, trust in the sinker, and the ability to finish hitters when ahead in the count.Pallante’s value has always been built on heavy movement and ground balls. His sinker generates weak contact when located properly. When it flattens out or leaks back over the plate, it becomes hittable in a hurry. That’s the margin he lives in.This spring start isn’t about innings volume. It’s about sharpening the edge.The Cardinals’ rotation picture still has moving parts. There are veterans with defined roles. There are younger arms pushing. And there’s that lingering question — will this be a five-man rotation, or does a sixth arm emerge early?If Pallante shows he can consistently:Get ahead with the fastball Keep the ball on the ground Miss enough bats with his secondary pitches He keeps himself firmly in that conversation.Projection systems may peg him as depth. But spring performance has a way of reshaping depth charts — especially for pitchers who throw strikes and compete.For Pallante, Tuesday night is simple: pound the zone, work efficiently, and remind the staff that he can be trusted every fifth day.In March, trust is currency.And Andre Pallante gets his first chance to earn some.

In the Spotlight - Andre Pallante

<h3>Hansen Takes Step Forward, with Scheduled Bullpen Session</h3>The Cardinal ChronicleLeft-hander Pete Hansen iwas scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday as he works his way back from left shoulder stiffness, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.For Hansen, this isn’t just another February side session. It’s a checkpoint.The 25-year-old southpaw had been slowed early in camp, and while the Cardinals have treated the stiffness cautiously, any time a pitcher’s shoulder is involved, the organization is going to pump the brakes. A bullpen session represents forward progress — a sign that the arm is responding and that a return to game action is beginning to come into view.Still, even with a clean bullpen, Hansen may open the season a step behind. The likely destination when he’s cleared for regular work is Triple-A Memphis, where he would continue building innings and sharpening his command.That assignment would be a natural progression.In 2025 at Double-A Springfield, Hansen logged 137.1 innings with a 3.93 ERA, striking out 123 against just 37 walks. The numbers tell a steady story — durability, strike-throwing, and the ability to navigate a lineup multiple times. He’s not overpowering, but he competes, changes speeds, and works the zone. That profile tends to age well.The Cardinals have valued Hansen’s polish since drafting him, and the next step in his development is proving he can handle upper-level hitters with consistency. Triple-A will test whether his mix can miss enough bats against more experienced lineups.For now, though, Monday’s bullpen is the headline. No rush. No drama. Just the quiet work of getting back on the mound.In a system that continues to build pitching depth, Hansen remains part of the picture. The key is simple: stay healthy, take the ball, and keep climbing.

Hansen Takes Step Forward, with Scheduled Bullpen Session

<h3>Ball Four: A Walk in the Park</h3>There are days in spring when the box score doesn’t shout.Yesterday was one of them, yesterday the St. Louis Cardinals Top Ranked Prospect, and likely the Cardinals second baseman on opening day and if I had my way the Cardinals lead-off hitter,&nbsp;JJ Wetherholt reached base twice — both on walks. No extra-base hit. No headline swing. Just two quiet trips down to first base.But if you’re watching closely, that’s the story.The focus wasn’t on exit velocity or loud contact. It was on approach. You could see it. He wasn’t up there guessing. He was working counts, seeing the ball, and refusing to expand the zone. The walks weren’t accidental — they were earned.For a player many of us are quietly pulling to see at the top of the order, that matters.A leadoff hitter’s first job isn’t slugging. It’s traffic. It’s pressure. It’s forcing pitchers to throw strikes and letting the lineup breathe behind him. Two disciplined walks tell you he understands that responsibility.And maybe more importantly, it tells you something about his focus.Approach is repeatable. Approach travels. Approach survives slumps.On a day when nothing flashy happened, we may have seen exactly what we needed to see.Sometimes the best sign of progress isn’t a home run.Sometimes it’s just a walk in the park. Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images&nbsp;

Ball Four: A Walk in the Park

The Cardinal Chronicle 

The Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.