Quinn Mathews: Cardinals 2024 Minor League Player Of The Year
There were stretches throughout Quinn Mathews’ fast-forward summer that he did get to know a new city, get familiar with a new ballpark and get comfortable in a new clubhouse before zipping off to his next stop on the most impressive season in the Cardinals’ farm system.
Mathews’ fastball wasn’t the only thing that gained velocity.
His advancement did, too.
“My expectations going into the year,” the 23-year-old lefthander said after his final start, “was how quickly can I move?”
The Stanford product finished the year 8-5, 2.76 with 202 strikeouts in 143.1 innings. He hurdled four full-season levels. His emphatic performance put him on the brink of the majors, with a debut expected in 2025.
The season after the Cardinals’ drafted him in the fourth round, Mathews made his pro debut in April at Low-A Palm Beach. By the time he bent a back-foot slider for his 200th strikeout of the season, he was starting for Triple-A Memphis in September.
“He had a good spring, and then right away, in the Florida State League, in one month, it was clear he was just way ahead,” Cardinals farm director Gary LaRocque said.
“Every time he went out on the mound, he was pitching above the league level, and it was clear. He worked hard, he worked hard between starts, and he was very intentional. He’s very focused.”
Mathews’ superb season began the winter before with a regimen that allowed him to add strength and weight to his 6-foot-5 frame. An added benefit to the durability was an uptick in the speed of his slider—up to 87 mph—and fastball—up to 95 mph.
He saw quickly how it worked against professional hitters at the lower levels, and then, during some struggles at Triple-A, how he could find outs without his best stuff.
A season on the move means there’s only one more place to go in his career, though he insisted the stops didn’t feel as quick as the results.
“I did unpack,” he insisted.
REDBIRD CHIRPS
—- After 12 years at the helm of Cardinals player development, Gary LaRocque announced his retirement from the position at the end of this season. The Cardinals’ assistant GM and farm director will remain in an adviser role for the 2025 season. During LaRocque’s time heading the system, the Cardinals graduated 113 players to the majors. His tenure is the second-longest in the position to only Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey in franchise history.
— For the second consecutive season, a Cardinals prospect is the MVP of the Double-A Texas League. A year after Thomas Saggese came to the Cardinals via trade and won the league’s top honor, Springfield catcher Jimmy Crooks was named the 2024 winner. The 23-year-old hit .321/.401/.498 and was among the leaders for everyday catchers with a .908 OPS.
