Infielder JJ Wetherholt became the highest-ever draftee by Major League Baseball on Sunday. Courtesy photo

MORGANTOWN — Infielder JJ Wetherholt became the highest-ever draftee by Major League Baseball, when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him seventh overall in the first round of the 2024 draft on Sunday.

Wetherholt just completed his junior year of eligibility at West Virginia University, playing shortstop and batting .336 in 36 games during the 2024 season.

By going seventh in the first round, Wetherholt becomes the highest draftee of any Mountaineer player in history.

Both Alek Manoah and Chris Enochs were Mountaineers drafted in the first round of their drafts, but neither was selected as high as No. 7 overall.

Wetherholt played mostly at shortstop this past season, after having been used at second base in 2023, when he batted a national best .449 with 60 RBIs and 16 home runs.

Hamstring injuries — beginning in the summer of 2023 when he played in the Cape Cod League and hampering the Mars, Pa. native again this spring — may have hurt Wetherholt’s position in the just-completed draft.

The middle infielder missed 24 games this season, with his injuries, after being named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2023.

The slot value of the seventh player selected overall is $6.823 million, but a draftee can sign for more or less money than that.

The Cleveland Guardians had the first overall pick in this year’s draft and took Oregon State University second baseman Travis Bazzana with that selection.

This year’s Major League draft took place from July 14-16, with rounds one and two on Sunday, rounds 3-10 on Monday and rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a rookie starter at shortstop this season, meaning Wetherholt could be groomed in the minor leagues, primarily as a second baseman.

He will probably sign his professional contract, play some games in the minor leagues through early September and then play winter baseball at the end of this calendar year.

One of Wetherholt’s more significant attributes is his ability to run and steal bases.

His hamstring miseries kept his 2024 stolen base total down, and the fact that he was injured in parts of both 2023 and 2024 will be focused on carefully by the St. Louis organization.