The St. Louis Cardinals will kick off the 2025 season on Thursday, with their final roster decisions finalized as the team wrapped up spring training in Jupiter. Here are some key updates from the last weekend before the regular season begins.
The Cardinals have taken an aggressive approach with top prospect JJ Wetherholt since selecting him seventh overall in the 2024 first-year player draft. The 22-year-old was invited to major league camp, where he appeared in 10 games and held his own against experienced big leaguers. While his batting average wasn’t remarkable, Wetherholt showcased impressive plate discipline, drawing six walks compared to five strikeouts. He also demonstrated his offensive potential by hitting a home run in his first spring game and stealing three bases without being caught.
Entering 2025 as the 23rd-ranked prospect in the league, Wetherholt will continue his accelerated development by starting the season with Double-A Springfield after playing 29 games with Single-A Palm Beach. While he remains primarily a shortstop, it is notable that he spent some time at second base during big league camp. Similar to pitcher Quinn Mathews’ progression, Wetherholt could earn a promotion to Triple-A Memphis in the second half of the season if he performs well in Springfield.
Nick Anderson Staying with the Organization, Begins in Memphis
The Cardinals signed reliever Nick Anderson to a minor league deal with an invite to major league camp, hoping for a high-upside return. When healthy, Anderson has proven to be a reliable late-inning arm, and St. Louis was betting on him regaining his early-career form.
However, the 34-year-old struggled in spring training. Over seven appearances, he pitched 5.2 innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits with three walks and six strikeouts. After being reassigned to minor league camp, Anderson had the option to leave if another MLB team added him to their 40-man roster, but no teams took the opportunity. As a result, Anderson will start the season in Memphis, where he will serve as a depth piece and aim to prove his health and effectiveness against younger competition.
Vince Coleman said he would love to come back to the Cardinals as a coach
After an offseason where some former players criticized the organization for not showing enough support to their alumni, one Cardinals Hall of Famer is eager to return as a coach. Vince Coleman, a six-time league leader in stolen bases, recently expressed his interest in rejoining the team to assist with baserunning during an interview with Randy Karraker and Brooke Grimsley. He specifically mentioned Victor Scott II, who led the minor leagues with 94 stolen bases in 2023, as a player he would love to mentor.
Coleman also pointed to analytics as a possible reason for the decline in stolen bases. At 63 years old, he remains one of the most successful players at stealing third base and wants to bring that aggressive mindset back to St. Louis. The Cardinals had the fourth-fewest stolen bases in the National League last season, a surprising shift for a team known for valuing baserunning. Coleman emphasized that baserunning isn’t just about stealing bases — it’s also about breaking up double plays and taking extra bases on hits.
While the organization has not yet responded to Coleman’s desire to coach, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him involved as a special instructor in the future.