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Heading into his first big league game and a start at second base on opening day at Busch Stadium, Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt thought back to what he did in his first game at the college level.

A freshman starting at third base for West Virginia as it faced Central Michigan to begin the 2022 season, Wetherholt homered to left field in the first inning of his first at-bat of Division I baseball.

On Thursday, he got his big league career off to a similar start.

Batting from the leadoff spot for the Cardinals as they played the Rays, Wetherholt hit a 425-foot solo homer to center field in the third inning. The blast gave the 23-year-old his first hit, RBI and homer in his second at-bat in the majors.

It gave him a realization that he 鈥渄id it again.鈥�

鈥淥bviously, it's a bigger stage, but your first at-bat in college is a big stage too. I was thinking, 鈥極h, I got some comfort there. A good game there, so let's do that again,鈥欌�� said Wetherholt, whose homer earned him a curtain call from the announced crowd of 45,307.

The homer, which provided the Cardinals with their first run of the 2026 season, highlighted a 1-for-4, two-RBI debut from Wetherholt. He also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly as a part of the eight-run sixth inning that completed a 9-7 comeback win over Tampa Bay.

鈥淗e's not afraid of a moment,鈥� Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said. 鈥淗e's a pretty even keel guy. ... Again, big swing, incredible moment for him, dugout, fans. I mean, you can't ask for a whole lot more than that. That was pretty special.鈥�

The seventh overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Wetherholt reached the majors after appearing in 138 games in the minors, which includes 109 games last year across Class AA and Class AAA. Wetherholt came into the year as the No. 3 prospect on Baseball America鈥檚 top 100 overall list and claimed the starting second base job out of camp after showing his readiness to leap into the majors less than two years from when he was drafted.

His approach at the plate and ability to work at-bats led to his placement atop the Cardinals batting order in the season opener, making him the sixth player in club history to bat from the leadoff spot in his debut. The homer in the third inning made him the fifth Cardinals player to homer in his debut on opening day and the first to do so since 1957.

Wetherholt said he plans to send the milestone baseball home with his parents, including his mother, Holly Ann Wetherholt, who was in attendance for Thursday's game.

鈥淪he asked if I was nervous. I said, 'No, I was only nervous because I knew you were nervous.' I just got to try to put on a show for her,鈥� Wetherholt said, relaying their postgame interaction.

To begin his big league career, Wetherholt saw seven pitches and flew out to center field when he led off the first inning against Rays All-Star starter Drew Rasmussen. When he stepped to the plate in the third inning to see the righty again, Wetherholt fell behind 0-2 before launching a 94.5 mph fastball on the outer half of the plate to center field.

The sight of Wetherholt鈥檚 home run was a familiar scene to center fielder Victor Scot II, who was a college teammate with Wetherholt and in the lineup when he homered in that first at-bat at West Virginia. The swing was seen as 鈥渟pecial鈥� by other teammates, as well as impressive considering the ballpark the Cardinals play in.

鈥淚t was super cool, super special,鈥� first baseman Alec Burleson said. 鈥淜nowing Busch, the way he hit that ball, I didn't think it was going out, just knowing Busch. But he got it, and it went pretty far.鈥�

鈥淚t was definitely special to see him out there and not only get your first knock but going dead center at Busch聽鈥� not a lot of people do that,鈥� shortstop Masyn Winn said.

Throughout Thursday鈥檚 opener, the Cardinals prospects comfort was obvious.

It was on display at the plate in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, no outs and the Cardinals down two runs, Wetherholt produced a deep fly ball to right field on an 0-1 sweeper lefty Garret Cleavinger left atop the strike zone.

鈥淚t's slowing down enough to understand what the situation is calling for,鈥� Marmol said. 鈥淚 think he's going to do that. There's a pace to the way he plays, that he competes as if he's already been here a while, and I love that about him. I really do.鈥�

During the pregame ceremonies, Winn said he saw a visibly 鈥渃ool鈥� Wetherholt as the Cardinals loaded onto the back of pickup trucks for their player introductions. On the infield, the Gold Glove shortstop tried to keep Wetherholt loose by cracking jokes and talking some smack. Winn wanted to remind Wetherholt to 鈥減lay free鈥� and 鈥渉ave fun.鈥�

Winn got his wish.

鈥淟ike, come on, man, just go out there and play your ball. He's going to be just fine,鈥� Winn said, 鈥淥bviously, you saw him go out there and do his thing today on both sides of the ball.鈥�