The Cardinals may have just found something they’ve been missing for years. And it didn’t take long to see it. Bernie Miklasz breaks down why JJ Wetherholt already looks like the real deal, from his approach at the plate to his presence as a potential franchise cornerstone. It's time to lock him up.

","highlights","status","PUBLISHED","featuredImage","/img/cardinals/bernie-cardinals-thumbnail-4-1-26-v1-544x306.jpg","seo",{"_370":891,"_892":893,"_894":895,"_914":915,"_916":888},"The Bernie Show: Seal the Deal","excerpt","Bernie Miklasz breaks down why JJ Wetherholt already looks like the real deal.","keyInfo",[896,900,904,908,911],{"_38":897,"_34":898,"_36":899},"Major League Baseball","league","major-league-baseball",{"_38":901,"_34":902,"_36":903},"St Louis Cardinals","team","st-louis-cardinals",{"_38":905,"_34":906,"_36":907},"JJ Wetherholt","player","jj-wetherholt",{"_38":909,"_34":906,"_36":910},"Chaim Bloom","chaim-bloom",{"_38":912,"_34":906,"_36":913},"Bill DeWitt","bill-dewitt","contentLength",98,"defaultImage","pageViews","commentCount","0","categoryFilter",{"_922":923,"_924":925},"property","specs.tag","values",[926],"stl-sports-central","slugUrl","2026/04/01/the-bernie-show-4-1-26","lock",{"_931":53,"_932":-5,"_933":-5,"_934":-5},"isLocked","userName","userId","date","categoryId","userReactions",[],"reactionSummary",[],"feedPageHeading","feedPageHeadingLineTwo","feedPageTitle","feedPageDescription","feedPageLogo","hideFeedForum","prohibitComments","prohibitReactions","prohibitReactionsInComments","hideFeaturedImage","advancedOptions","feedBorderOverrideColor","feedBlurb","tag",[955,957,960,963,966,969,972,973,974,975,976,977],{"_7":953,"_753":956,"_38":956},"sports",{"_7":953,"_753":958,"_38":959},"missouri-sports","Missouri Sports",{"_7":953,"_753":961,"_38":962},"saint-louis-sports","Saint Louis sports",{"_7":953,"_753":964,"_38":965},"saint-louis","Saint Louis",{"_7":953,"_753":967,"_38":968},"st-louis","St Louis",{"_7":953,"_753":970,"_38":971},"st-louis-sports","St Louis Sports",{"_7":953,"_753":926,"_38":371},{"_7":898,"_753":899,"_38":897},{"_7":902,"_753":903,"_38":901},{"_7":906,"_753":907,"_38":905},{"_7":906,"_753":910,"_38":909},{"_7":906,"_753":913,"_38":912},"isPremium","isWarning","isTertiary","hasEmbed","types",[984],"video","videoInfo",{"_987":988},"url","https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuARx8dPoEM","podcastInfo",{"_987":18},"relatedArticles",{"_15":993,"_994":995},[],"filters",[996],{"_922":923,"_924":997},[926],"thumbnail","/img/cardinals/bernie-cardinals-thumbnail-4-1-26-v1-thumbnail.jpg","publishedOn","2026-04-01T21:06:00.000Z","featuredImageUrl","cacheKey","shstl_the-bernie-show-4-1-26","cachedOn","2026-06-20T06:28:50.194Z","contentBlocks",[1009,1015,1018,1020,1022],{"_34":1010,"_15":1011,"_1014":18},"ad",{"_34":82,"_36":128,"_38":128,"_39":18,"_41":18,"_42":23,"_43":129,"_44":18,"_46":18,"_47":18,"_48":18,"_50":1012,"_52":53,"_54":53,"_55":53,"_56":53,"_57":1013},[],{"_59":18,"_60":18,"_61":18,"_62":18,"_63":18,"_64":18,"_65":18,"_66":18,"_68":18,"_69":18},"html",{"_34":1016,"_1014":1017},"text","

",{"_34":1016,"_1014":1019},"

",{"_34":1016,"_1014":1021},"

",{"_34":1016,"_1014":1021},"metaSettings",{"_370":371,"_372":373,"_147":374,"_375":371,"_376":377,"_378":377,"_379":377,"_380":377,"_381":1025,"_390":391,"_392":18,"_393":377,"_394":377,"_395":377,"_396":397},{"_383":384,"_385":386,"_387":388,"_389":329},"sidebarSections",[1028,1122],{"_162":1029,"_1032":1033,"_1034":1035,"_1036":1035,"_994":1037},{"_370":1030,"_372":18,"_1031":18},"Bernie Miklasz Written Content","image","articles",[],"desktopLayoutStyle","default","mobileLayoutStyle",[1038],{"_34":953,"_36":1039,"_1040":217,"_15":1041,"_1054":1055,"_924":1056,"_1120":45,"_982":1121},"bernie-miklasz","count",{"_36":1039,"_38":1042,"_879":-5,"_34":953,"_140":1043,"_1052":1053},"bernie miklasz",{"_142":1044,"_143":1045,"_147":-5,"_148":1047,"_150":-5,"_151":-5,"_152":1048},"973aec08-a44b-4277-b40c-693f768934cd",{"_36":-5,"_7":1046,"_146":-5},"Specification",[],{"_154":1049,"_156":1050,"_158":1050,"_159":1051},"2025-03-23T14:57:49.169Z","9c11c01e-d312-4b5a-a115-bf834a35f1e0","2025-03-23T14:57:49.171Z","contentTypes",[865],"load","preload",[1057,1078,1092,1106],{"_1031":1058,"_867":1059,"_927":1060,"_953":1042,"_934":1061,"_1000":1062,"_875":1063,"_881":1066,"_370":1067,"_392":1068,"_892":1068,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1070,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1072,"_938":1073,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1074,"_869":1070,"_985":1075,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"/img/bernie/bernie-central-rev-544x306.jpg","bernie-miklasz-redbird-review-6-19-26","/2026/06/19/bernie-miklasz-redbird-review-6-19-26","2026-06-19T21:59:06.445Z","2026-06-19T22:14:00.000Z",{"_38":332,"_36":1064,"_879":1065},"berniemiklasz","/avatars/berniemiklasz.jpg",[],"REDBIRD REVIEW: Four Baby Birds Crucial to Cards Future Success","In his last four starts with Memphis, Mathews has permitted only four earned runs in 21 innings for a 1.71 ERA.","viewCount","2a0ba525-09d9-4235-8ccf-b0cac439d836","isLiveFile",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},"externalUrl","subHeadings",{"_1031":1058,"_867":1079,"_927":1080,"_953":1042,"_934":1081,"_1000":1082,"_875":1083,"_881":1084,"_370":1085,"_392":1086,"_892":1086,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1087,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1088,"_938":1089,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1090,"_869":1087,"_985":1091,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"bernie-miklasz-breakfast-6-19-26","/2026/06/19/bernie-miklasz-breakfast-6-19-26","2026-06-19T14:26:41.027Z","2026-06-19T14:40:00.000Z",{"_38":332,"_36":1064,"_879":1065},[],"Breakfast with Bernie: Cards and Libby Melt in KC Opener, USMNT Expectations Rise in WC, Goldy Still Crushing Lefties","The Cardinals (40-33) have lost five of their last eight games – and all five losses have come against teams with losing records.","e76f3472-a71e-4f94-aa9b-e3a6feb75070",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},{"_1031":1058,"_867":1093,"_927":1094,"_953":1042,"_934":1095,"_1000":1096,"_875":1097,"_881":1098,"_370":1099,"_392":1100,"_892":1100,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1101,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1102,"_938":1103,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1104,"_869":1101,"_985":1105,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"bernie-miklasz-redbird-review-6-18-26","/2026/06/18/bernie-miklasz-redbird-review-6-18-26","2026-06-18T22:33:41.104Z","2026-06-18T22:45:00.000Z",{"_38":332,"_36":1064,"_879":1065},[],"REDBIRD REVIEW: The Mission in KC, Walker's June Stats, and the Cards Coming Catching Conundrum","The Cardinals will have to sort out the catcher position and make some hard choices before the start of the 2027 season.","18ba18b1-6518-45c7-92bb-6b7046bbcbfb",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},{"_1031":1058,"_867":1107,"_927":1108,"_953":1042,"_934":1109,"_1000":1110,"_875":1111,"_881":1112,"_370":1113,"_392":1114,"_892":1114,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1115,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1116,"_938":1117,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1118,"_869":1115,"_985":1119,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"bernie-miklasz-breakfast-6-18-26","/2026/06/18/bernie-miklasz-breakfast-6-18-26","2026-06-18T14:11:55.319Z","2026-06-18T14:21:53.605Z",{"_38":332,"_36":1064,"_879":1065},[],"Breakfast with Bernie: The Joshua Baez Debate: Why Triple-A Is Still the Right Place","Cardinals fans are buzzing more than ever about power-hitting prospect Joshua Baez, who made big news nationally by walloping four home runs for Memphis in a win over Nashville. That incredible feat got national attention from media sources that ranged from Baseball America to People magazine. ","83f6fee6-e5dc-4928-9c2d-aa59a021efda",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},"skip",[865],{"_162":1123,"_1032":1124,"_1034":1035,"_1036":1035,"_994":1125},{"_370":901,"_372":18,"_1031":18},[],[1126],{"_34":902,"_36":903,"_1120":190,"_1040":217,"_15":1127,"_1054":1055,"_924":1137,"_982":1201},{"_879":-5,"_34":902,"_36":903,"_38":901,"_1128":53,"_140":1129,"_1052":1136},"isHidden",{"_142":1130,"_143":1131,"_147":-5,"_148":1132,"_150":-5,"_151":-5,"_152":1133},"4c4a795a-2dd7-46d4-926b-9a1a3c87ac55",{"_36":-5,"_7":1046,"_146":-5},[],{"_154":1134,"_156":157,"_158":157,"_159":1135},"2025-01-24T15:00:01.364Z","2025-01-24T15:00:02.715Z",[865],[1138,1155,1162,1182],{"_1031":1139,"_867":1140,"_927":1141,"_953":371,"_934":1142,"_1000":1143,"_875":1144,"_881":1145,"_370":1146,"_392":1147,"_892":1147,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_982":1148,"_36":1149,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1150,"_938":1151,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1152,"_869":1149,"_985":1153,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"/img/cardinals/bernie-cardinals-thumbnail-6-18-26-544x306.jpg","the-bernie-show-6-18-26","/2026/06/18/the-bernie-show-6-18-26","2026-06-18T19:15:35.574Z","2026-06-18T19:19:00.000Z",{"_38":877,"_36":878,"_879":880},[],"The Bernie Show: Dustin May's Case as an Ace. Value to Future of Cardinals?","Bernie breaks down May's remarkable run since April 10 and what it means for his future in St. Louis.",[984],"e00b8402-fe67-48aa-8742-dce77d9d2c07",[],[],{},{"_987":1154},"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUHiRtXppOk",{"_1031":1058,"_867":1107,"_927":1108,"_953":1042,"_934":1109,"_1000":1110,"_875":1156,"_881":1157,"_370":1113,"_392":1114,"_892":1114,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1115,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1158,"_938":1159,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1160,"_869":1115,"_985":1161,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},{"_38":332,"_36":1064,"_879":1065},[],[],[],{},{"_987":-5},{"_1031":1163,"_867":1164,"_927":1165,"_953":901,"_934":1166,"_1000":1167,"_1168":1169,"_875":1170,"_881":1174,"_370":1175,"_392":1176,"_892":1176,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1177,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1178,"_938":1179,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1180,"_869":1177,"_985":1181,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"/img/cardinals/masyn-winn-turns-two-to-save-shutout-544x306.jpg","cardinals-highlight-reel-defense-backs-starting-pitching","/2026/06/17/cardinals-highlight-reel-defense-backs-starting-pitching","2026-06-17T22:06:25.964Z","2026-06-17T22:32:27.496Z","photoCredit","Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images",{"_38":1171,"_36":1172,"_879":1173},"Hunter Mulholland","huntermulholland","/avatars/huntermulholland.jpg",[],"Cardinals Highlight Reel Defense Backs Rebound Outings For Starting Pitching","The St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitching turned in three strong performances against the San Diego Padres, and they were backed by a dazzling defense.","de5bf70f-2310-4837-988f-651dfd373061",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},{"_1031":1183,"_867":1184,"_927":1185,"_953":901,"_934":1186,"_1000":1187,"_1168":1188,"_875":1189,"_881":1193,"_370":1194,"_392":1195,"_892":1195,"_978":53,"_979":53,"_980":53,"_1069":190,"_918":919,"_36":1196,"_442":865,"_1071":53,"_936":1197,"_938":1198,"_946":53,"_947":53,"_948":53,"_950":1199,"_869":1196,"_985":1200,"_1076":18,"_1077":-5,"_952":-5},"/img/cardinals/josha-baez-544x306.jpg","st-louis-cardinals-prospect-joshua-baez-had-clubhouse-buzzing","/2026/06/17/st-louis-cardinals-prospect-joshua-baez-had-clubhouse-buzzing","2026-06-17T19:51:01.585Z","2026-06-17T20:01:28.501Z","Jim Rassol-Imagn Images",{"_38":1190,"_36":1191,"_879":1192},"Brenden Schaeffer","brendenschaeffer","/avatars/brendenschaeffer.jpg",[],"Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez had even the big league clubhouse buzzing about his incredible night in Memphis","I had not accounted for the possibility that Baez’s performance would already be a talking point within the Cardinals clubhouse before I even walked into it.","266b069c-86f7-4ac2-917d-a229f99fed29",[],[],{},{"_987":-5},[865],"playerData","actionData","errors"]

The Bernie Show: Seal the Deal

REDBIRD REVIEW: Four Baby Birds Crucial to Cards Future Success

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 19, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: Cards and Libby Melt in KC Opener, USMNT Expectations Rise in WC, Goldy Still Crushing Lefties

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 19, 2026

REDBIRD REVIEW: The Mission in KC, Walker's June Stats, and the Cards Coming Catching Conundrum

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: The Joshua Baez Debate: Why Triple-A Is Still the Right Place

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

The Bernie Show: Dustin May's Case as an Ace. Value to Future of Cardinals?

By HUB STAFF

Jun 18, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: The Joshua Baez Debate: Why Triple-A Is Still the Right Place

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

Cardinals Highlight Reel Defense Backs Rebound Outings For Starting Pitching

By Hunter Mulholland

Jun 17, 2026

Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez had even the big league clubhouse buzzing about his incredible night in Memphis

By Brenden Schaeffer

Jun 17, 2026

REDBIRD REVIEW: Four Baby Birds Crucial to Cards Future Success

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 19, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: Cards and Libby Melt in KC Opener, USMNT Expectations Rise in WC, Goldy Still Crushing Lefties

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 19, 2026

REDBIRD REVIEW: The Mission in KC, Walker's June Stats, and the Cards Coming Catching Conundrum

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: The Joshua Baez Debate: Why Triple-A Is Still the Right Place

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

The Bernie Show: Dustin May's Case as an Ace. Value to Future of Cardinals?

By HUB STAFF

Jun 18, 2026

Breakfast with Bernie: The Joshua Baez Debate: Why Triple-A Is Still the Right Place

By Bernie Miklasz

Jun 18, 2026

Cardinals Highlight Reel Defense Backs Rebound Outings For Starting Pitching

By Hunter Mulholland

Jun 17, 2026

Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez had even the big league clubhouse buzzing about his incredible night in Memphis

By Brenden Schaeffer

Jun 17, 2026