West Virginia
Two Mountaineers Could Be on Team USA’s Radar in the Near Future
Baseball and the 4th of July. It goes together so well, and perhaps one day, we will see a pair of West Virginia Mountaineers sporting the red, white, and blue for Team USA in the Olympics (set to return in 2028) or the World Baseball Classic.
I know most everyone’s attention in West Virginia over the last two or so months has been consumed by the Mountaineers’ magical run to the College World Series, so you may not realize how much of a tear former Mountaineer star JJ Wetherholt has been on in the big leagues.
We’ll catch you up to speed.
In the first 81 games of his career, Wetherholt has hit 12 home runs, recorded 35 RBI, and has slashed .260/.357/.398. On top of being one of the best-hitting second basemen in the entire game, he is a perfect 9/9 on stolen base attempts and has been elite with the glove, committing just two errors on the season, giving him a fielding percentage of .994.
One of the best moments of Wetherholt’s red-hot start was this leadoff home run against Paul Skenes, last year’s Cy Young award winner.
JJ Wetherholt hits a leadoff shot off Paul Skenes! pic.twitter.com/7KzVkutArL
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 30, 2026
Hitting a bomb off one of the most talented pitchers in the game certainly raised some eyebrows, but I’m not sure even that tops what he did in just his second game, shooting a ball through the right side of the infield, collecting his first-ever walk-off hit in the majors.
JJ WETHERHOLT WALKS IT OFF! pic.twitter.com/5Adski5dMn
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2026
For you baseball junkies out there, Wetherholt currently has a WAR (wins above replacement) of 3.8. Only nine others in the entire MLB — pitcher or position player — have a higher rating. Those players are P Christopher Sanchez (PHI), P/DH Shohei Ohtani (LAD), OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), SS Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), IF Kevin McGonigle (DET), P Chase Burns (CIN), P Jacob Misirowski (MIL), OF Andy Pages (LAD), and SS Otto Lopez (MIA).
The next big league star
I think if you polled 100 scouts at the next level, you would get pretty close to a consensus that West Virginia catcher/second baseman is going to be a really good player in the big leagues for a really long time. The hit tool is off the charts, as we all know, but the glove is just as impressive. He finished the season with an overall fielding percentage of .987, helping him earn All-American honors at two different positions, which is incredibly rare. I won’t go as far as saying it’s the baseball version of what Travis Hunter did at Colorado playing wide receiver and corner, but it’s pretty darn close.
As a sophomore, Kelly flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the season before ending the year with a .382 mark. He belted 19 home runs and drove in 63 runs. The scary thing for opposing pitchers is that he still has a ton of room to get bigger and stronger, which will only improve his power numbers and slugging percentage.
With another strong year in 2027, Kelly could be one of the handful of names considered to be the No. 1 overall pick in next summer’s draft.
Follow
West Virginia
CDC says 4 states likely linked in cyclosporiasis outbreak. See which ones
Here’s the latest on cycloporiasis in NYC: cases, symptoms
Both the state and city health department are investigating an increase of cyclosporiasis cases in the region. Here’s the latest.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and states are investigating a surge of cyclosporiasis cases across the country.
Cyclosporiasis, or the disease caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, has been confirmed in 1,645 cases as of July 13 and is under investigation in more than 5,100 additional cases, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC officials said a cluster of cases in four states − Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky − are likely linked.
Data from state health departments suggests the total number of cases could be higher that what’s been publicly reported. In Michigan, officials are tracking more than 2,600 infections as of July 13, according to the state’s Health and Human Services department.
The parasitic infection can cause explosive diarrhea, cramping, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Officials are probing whether a food or produce item is the source of a surge in cases of cyclosporiasis.
CDC officials said symptoms can appear two days to two weeks after someone is infected with the parasite. The organization also issued a health alert to doctors, other medical providers and public health officials about the outbreak.
This story is developing and will be updated.
West Virginia
West Virginia Wildlife Center’s popular ‘Rendezvous’ celebration returns this month
Help Wanted
Upshur County Schools is hiring a part-time MedEd nursing instructor — a licensed RN or certified medical assistant — to lead high school students through hands-on training in clinical and hospital settings, in partnership with WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital. Read more →
This story brought to you paywall-free, courtesy of the My Buckhannon team and our community partners
FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced the West Virginia Wildlife Center will host its 10th annual Rendezvous Celebration Friday, July 31, and Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The event will be held rain or shine and will feature an immersive living-history experience spanning precolonial times through the Civil War era.
“The Rendezvous is one of the Wildlife Center’s most anticipated annual events, and reaching our 10th year makes it even more special,” said Mark Biller, wildlife biologist at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. “This gathering brings West Virginia’s frontier history to life in a way that is both educational and engaging for visitors of all ages.”
Historical reenactors, dressed in authentic period clothing and demonstrating daily life from early American history, will establish a living-history encampment on the grounds of the Wildlife Center. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe traditional skills including blacksmithing, woodworking, beadwork, sewing, cooking and knife making. Additional demonstrations will highlight the role of a frontier scout, showcasing bush survival techniques, weapons history and gunsmith artifacts that reflect the challenges and ingenuity of early settlers.
Regular admission rates apply, and Wildlife Center passes are accepted. Admission is $4 for adults ages 16 and older, $2 for children ages 6 to 15 and free for children five and under. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted at the gate.
The West Virginia Wildlife Center is located 12 miles south of Buckhannon on Route 20 and approximately 29 miles north of Flatwoods. For more information about the event, visit WVdnr.gov or call the Wildlife Center at 304-924-6211.
West Virginia
Bridgeport named ‘Best Place to Live in West Virginia’ by popular website, Morgantown rounds out top 10
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – A new HomeSnacks ranking lists Bridgeport as the best place to live in West Virginia for 2026, with Morgantown also landing in the top 10.
HomeSnacks is a website that publishes list-style rankings and “best of” guides about cities and towns.
Bridgeport was ranked No. 1. The site lists Bridgeport’s median household income at $100,022, median home value at $297,307, and unemployment at 2.3%.
In its write-up, HomeSnacks also highlights Bridgeport’s history, saying the city was chartered in 1816 and has continued to grow, noting that it’s home to several aerospace companies, along with oil and gas companies.
The list also points to Bridgeport-area schools, saying Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Middle School and Johnson Elementary have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Morgantown ranked No. 10 on the HomeSnacks list.
HomeSnacks lists Morgantown’s population at 30,236, and describes it as one of the fastest-growing places in West Virginia. It also says Morgantown has the youngest population in the state, with a median age of 24, and calls it one of the best places in West Virginia for singles.
The Morgantown description also says the cost of living is 0.9 times lower than the national average, that the unemployment rate is the 16th lowest in the state, and that the median income is $44,727 per year.
HomeSnacks says it used data from sources including the U.S. Census, FBI and Zillow, and compared factors like safety, home prices and income.
Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
-
Entertainment3 minutes ago‘Hail Satan? Not me.’ Charley Crockett fires satanic duo Twin Temple, so Jack White hires them
-
Lifestyle9 minutes agoIt’s time for the night trip to the beach — the grunion are running
-
Politics15 minutes agoAfter lawsuit, ICE pauses construction of Bay Area detention facility
-
Science21 minutes agoAnger grows in Boyle Heights as warehouse fire leaves stench, flies and vermin in its wake
-
Sports27 minutes agoSpain delivers surprise rout of France, clinches berth into World Cup final
-
World39 minutes agoUS says latest Iran strike wave over, IRGC claims damage to US Naval HQ
-
News1 hour agoSupreme Court Justices give chilling accounts of threats to their safety
-
Los Angeles, Ca3 hours agoStabbing at Chino Hills liquor store ends in attempted murder arrest