Cardinals place JJ Wetherholt on 10-day IL with right wrist tendinitis, calling up César Prieto

The St. Louis Cardinals placed rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right wrist tendinitis, a transaction that immediately affects the club’s lineup stability as the season moves deeper into its final stretch. The move came after Wetherholt, according to CBS Sports reporting, had been playing through discomfort for weeks.

For the Cardinals, the timing lands at a moment when every lineup day can matter more than usual. St. Louis has been managing postseason expectations, and losing a regular contributor in the middle infield forces the organization to look for short-term production from whoever takes over second base and related defensive responsibilities.

The roster response was straightforward. Infielder César Prieto was called up in a corresponding move, giving St. Louis a backup option to keep the infield rotation working without overextending whatever regulars remain in place. The Cardinals have had to balance getting consistent at-bats while also keeping defensive matchups workable.

Wetherholt’s status also carries weight for the broader National League Rookie of the Year conversation. He had been one of the most visible rookie figures for the Cardinals, and a wrist ailment can affect more than just availability. Even when a player returns, tendinitis can influence swing timing, bat control, and day-to-day comfort, which is often the difference between playing through minor issues and needing a longer reset.

The Cardinals’ next steps will likely hinge on how quickly the wrist responds during the IL window. Ten days can be enough for some minor soft-tissue problems, but tendinitis is not one-size-fits-all, and the club will be expected to determine whether he can resume normal workload without aggravating the area.

As Prieto gets a look, the question becomes how St. Louis uses him while Wetherholt is out. If the Cardinals keep a conventional infield shape, Prieto’s role could include second-base duties and infield coverage based on matchups. If they alter the alignment to prioritize defense or run prevention, Prieto’s opportunities could come in bursts.

For fans watching both the Cardinals and the rookie award race, Sunday’s move is a reminder that health can swing narratives quickly. Even without changing end-of-season award criteria, a meaningful IL absence can change counting stats and the “visibility” of a rookie’s most productive weeks, which often matters in how races are perceived late in the season.

The immediate watch is roster utilization over the coming days, including who holds the second-base spot most often and whether Prieto’s call-up becomes a short fill-in or a more steady role. After that, Wetherholt’s progress will define when the Cardinals can rely on their planned infield core again.