Cody Nespor | WBOY News

Former West Virginia great JJ Wetherholt has signed a massive, eight-year, $112.5 million extension with the St. Louis Cardinals, announced Friday.

Still in his first MLB season, Wetherholt has been one of the best rookies in baseball this year. He is hitting .267 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI and 57 runs scored as the Cardinals’ everyday second baseman and leadoff hitter.

The deal is the largest St. Louis has handed out to a pre-arbitration player since Albert Pujols in 2004. There are no options at the end of the contract, which includes escalators to go up to as much as $132 million.

A Pittsburgh area native, Wetherholt blossomed into a superstar during his time at WVU. Following a strong freshman season, he broke out with a .449 batting average as a sophomore, hitting 24 doubles and 16 home runs with 60 RBI and 36 stolen bases. Battling injuries as a junior, he hit .331 in 2024 before becoming the program’s highest-ever draft pick, going seventh overall to the Cardinals that summer.

The contract is easily the largest ever signed by a former WVU baseball player.