Memphis Redbirds shortstop JJ Wetherholt has been attracting a lot of attention these days, and with good reason.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ No. 1 prospect, Wetherholt was promoted from Double-A Springfield on July 7, and he made an immediate impression, going 8-for-16 with a home run and two RBIs in his first four games. The Cardinals’ first-round draft pick (No. 7 overall) in 2024, Wetherholt, who turns 23 on September 9, already has fans wondering when he will arrive in St. Louis.
However, Wetherholt is not the only batter scorching the ball for Memphis these days. Catcher Jimmy Crooks, the franchise’s No. 6 prospect, recently had a 13-game hit streak, and he has reached base in his last 16 consecutive games.
Jimmy Crooks Enjoying Best Month of 2025
The Cardinals’ fourth-round pick in 2022, Crooks, who turned 24 on Saturday, got off to a slow start in his first season with Memphis. Crooks was named the Texas League MVP in 2024, and he also earned 2024 Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year honors after posting a slash line of .321/.410/.498 with 11 home runs and 62 RBIs in 90 games for Springfield, but through May 7, he was batting just .228 with four homers and 23 RBIs.
Crooks closed out May on a 21–for-60 stretch (.350) that boosted his average to .267, but then he hit .211 in June. He did, however, get a hit in each of his last five games of June, then kept that going into July, which has been his best month of the season. Crooks went 3-for-4 on Tuesday, giving him a .349 average in July and raising his overall line to .264/.325/.437 with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs.
Nathan Church Maintains Impressive Consistency
While Crooks has had an up-and-down ride throughout 2025, Memphis outfielder Nathan Church has maintained an impressive run of consistent excellence.
The Cardinals’ No. 20 prospect, Church started the season late due to an injury but slashed .357/.407/.602 in May for Springfield and was named Texas League Player of the Month. He was promoted to Memphis at the beginning of June and finished that month with a slash line of .358/.435/.617.
So far in July, it’s been more of the same, and through 33 Triple-A games, Church is slashing .354/.430/.577 with an OPS of 1.007. He has eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, 24 RBIs and six stolen bases, and Church has walked 18 times compared to 17 strikeouts.
Pitching Spurs Strong Second Half Start for Springfield
After placing first through the first half of the Texas League season with a 43-26 record, the Springfield Cardinals have stayed on a roll into the second half. Despite losing 2-1 to Tulsa on Tuesday, the Cardinals are 15-7 with a 2-game lead in the North Division.
Pitching has been key for Springfield, who has gotten a boost from the early June promotion from High-A Peoria of Hancel Rincon. In seven appearances, including six starts, Rincon has gone 3-2 with a 3.96 ERA, with 46 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
Left-hander Ixan Henderson, the Cardinals’ No. 25 prospect, has a 1.08 ERA in three July starts covering 16.1 innings. Henderson has gone five-plus innings and allowed two or fewer runs in 12 of his 16 starts this season, and he is 6-4 with a 2.43 ERA, striking out 90 in 85.1 innings.
Another left-hander, Brycen Mautz has posted a 1.42 ERA during his four starts in July for Springfield. The Cardinals’ No. 21 prospect, Mautz is 3-2 with a 3.54 ERA this season, with 82 strikeouts in 68.2 innings.
Offensively, catcher Leonardo Bernal continues to lead the way for the Redbirds. The Cardinals’ No. 3 prospect has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, and for the season, Bernal has a slash line of .281/.353/.462, with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs.