Springfield Cardinals fans looking for a chance to see the organization’s hottest prospect should make plans to spend part of their 4th of July weekend at Hammons Field.
Left-hander Quinn Mathews is scheduled to make his second start with Springfield in a 6:35 p.m. game on July 6, as the Cardinals play host to Northwest Arkansas. The series opens on July 4 with post-game fireworks following the 5:35 p.m. start.
Don’t expect to see a lot of offensive fireworks with Mathews on the mound.
The 23-year-old left-hander is opening eyes in his first professional season after St. Louis selected him in the 4th round of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. Mathews was a four-year standout at Stanford, where he set a school single-season record with 158 strikeouts — trailing only current MLB rookie sensation Paul Skenes — and a 10-4 record.
‘I'm just trying to get a footing'
The 6-foot-5 Mathews already has advanced two levels in the organization this season. He began his pro career at Low-A Palm Beach, was quickly promoted to High-A Peoria and was recently called up to Double-A where he worked 5 ⅓ innings, allowing two unearned runs and one hit in his Springfield debut.
“I don’t think there was a set goal in where I would be or how fast I would like to do it,” Mathews said of his fast-track trajectory. “Just going out and getting better, every time I take the mound, is the ultimate goal. I didn’t really know what to expect from pro ball in comparison to college baseball.
“I’m just trying to get a footing in my first pro leagues.”
Manager says Mathews has a big-league arm
The updated midseason ranking of Cardinals' top 30 minor-league prospects at MLB.com lists Mathews at No. 2. It raves about his jump in fastball velocity from 91 in college to 97 this season and his ability to command a four-pitch arsenal — fastball, curve, slider and changeup.
“He definitely has a big-league arm,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said before Mathews’ first Double-A start. “We root for him to have good health and get his innings in here. I’m excited for him.
“When you’re a lefty and can miss bats, watch out. This guy, I like what I saw in spring training and I’m excited to see what he can do here.”
Mathews, a native of Mission Viejo, California, said he doesn’t have one pitch that stands out above the others. He likes to think all four complement the others.
“The curve has really come along in professional baseball, which has helped set up the other pitches, because it is a pitch with depth,” Mathews said. “I think that’s allowed me to change eye levels a little more than I did in college.”
He turned down pro ball to return to Stanford
Mathews’ college career was interesting in that, unlike the majority of prospects, he turned down pro ball after the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 19th round of the 2022 draft. Used as a closer his junior season at Stanford, picking up nine saves, Mathews elected to return to school and became the No. 1 starter for the Cardinal in 2023.
He worked 124 ⅔ innings for Stanford and threw an alarming 156 pitches in a Super Regional victory over Texas, helping Stanford reach the College World Series. He struck out 16 in the Game Two victory to keep the series, which Stanford eventually won, going.
Mathews said he doesn’t remember a lot of specifics about that game and shrugged off the high pitch total.
“It was just Game Two of the Super Regional. We were down 1-0 and we needed to win in order to continue to play,” Mathews said. “I think it was a Monday. I was not going to be the guy who ended our season, at least not in Stanford, at home.
“You don’t want the season to end. We won Game Two and found a way to win Game Three. We couldn’t find a way to win a couple in Omaha.”
The durability and high strikeout rate have continued in pro ball. He’s already made 14 starts in 2024, with a minor-league-leading 113 strikeouts in 79 ⅔ innings. He’s walked just 23 and opponents are hitting a paltry .143 against him.
Teammate and fellow lefty starter Cooper Hjerpe, who pitched against Mathews in the Pac 12 at Oregon State, said of Mathews, “He’s gonna pound the zone. The guy’s got velo that came out of nowhere and I’m still trying to pick his brain on that.
“He’s a great guy, an ultimate competitor. He’s gonna go out and shove everything in the zone. That’s what you’re gonna see.”
Mathews used extra year of college to grow off the field
The durability is something that should serve Mathews well as he continues a rapid ascent toward the big leagues. He said going back to college for the extra season was important in both his mental and physical maturity.
“Most guys come out after their sophomore year nowadays because they’re so old, or their junior year is normal,” Mathew said. “Things didn’t work out for me after my junior season. I didn’t have the kind of year I wanted and offers weren’t what I had wanted.
“Ultimately I think it allowed me to grow more so off the field than anything just as a human being in getting routines down and stuff like that, but also knowing the person I need to be once I’m out of these gates, out of the facility.”
While many of his peers in minor-league baseball need to learn the proper work ethic, Mathews arrived with it. There is a reason he was so durable in college — and now in pro ball.
“I think the durability aspect is taking care (of yourself) off the field,” he said. “It’s the stuff that people don’t get to see. You have to take care of your body in terms of sleep, recovery, eating, nutrition as well as lifting and doing what you should to get ready for your next start.”
Bend it like Beckham? No, tie it like Ronaldo
One thing fans might notice about Mathews, before the game’s first batter steps in, is an interesting ritual. He likes to tie his right shoe first. Why?
“Cristiano Ronaldo does it and he’s a pretty good athlete in his own regard,” Mathews said of the soccer star. “I figured if Ronaldo’s doing it, maybe there’s a little bit of knowledge behind tying the right one before the left one.”
After tying those shoes in the proper order, look for Mathews to go right after the opposition with all four of his pitches. It’s a mindset that could see him land in St. Louis sooner than most who began the season at the Low-A level.
If he remains in Springfield for the rest of the season, that’s OK, too. Mathews said he’s happy to be with a team that will be in the Texas League playoffs, with old college rival Hjerpe and youth travel baseball friend and Springfield outfielder Nathan Church as teammates.
“They clinched the first half, which is awesome. It’s a winning culture and winning environment,” Mathews said. “It’s a lot easier to come into those because the guys know how to win at the end of the day. It’ll be a fun group to play with, no matter how long or how short my stay will be. I just hope to contribute every time I go out there.”
Springfield's upcoming homestand
- July 4 — Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas, 5:35 p.m. (post-game fireworks and concert)
- July 5 — Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas, 7:05 p.m. (post-game fireworks)
- July 6 — Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas, 6:35 p.m. (post-game fireworks)
- July 9 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
- July 10 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
- July 11 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
- July 12 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 7:05 p.m.
- July 13 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 6:35 p.m.
- July 14 — Springfield vs. Wichita, 1:05 p.m.
For tickets, call (417) 863-2143 or visit the Springfield Cardinals’ website
