Former Cardinals' Pitcher Reflects on a Season of Learning and Growth
The St. Louis Cardinals have been focusing on high-velocity right-handed pitchers since Chaim Bloom took the reins, but they also have a wealth of other talented pitchers in the upper echelons of the minors who could soon make their mark on the big league team. One such player who generated a lot of buzz around this time last year was Quinn Mathews, a rising star who had just won the Cardinals' minor league Pitcher of the Year award and was near the top of the organization's prospect list.
Mathews' success led to an invitation to big league Spring Training, where he even got a start against the Toronto Blue Jays' powerhouse hitters. Despite pitching well, he was the first pitcher reassigned to minor league camp, spending the rest of the time working with the player development staff. However, this experience proved to be a valuable learning curve for the young pitcher.
In an interview, Mathews shared his experiences from last year's struggles, particularly regarding his shoulder injuries and decline in command. When asked about his mental approach during a difficult season, he revealed a shift in perspective. Mathews moved from a "pessimistic" mindset to a more "realist" one, drawing inspiration from Tyler Glasnow's concept of "mound traumas" and using them as a catalyst for growth.
Looking back, Mathews realized that the expectations for his 2025 campaign were high because of his impressive performance the previous season. He likened last year to his sophomore year of college, where he faced more mound traumas, and now feels poised to bounce back in 2026. Interestingly, rotation "veteran" Michael McGreevy agreed that Mathews was sometimes too hard on himself, citing his own experience with self-criticism.
"[Quinn} will be like, 'oh dude, Greevy, I suck,' and I'm like, 'Quinn, you just struck out 12 guys,' and he's like, 'Yeah, but I walked two,'" McGreevy humorously recounted.
Mathews' growth was also influenced by his interactions with veteran Sonny Gray, who he learned a lot from last year. Now, fully healthy and eager to move past last season, Mathews has set a seemingly sarcastic goal of making it to at least the second pitcher in camp. With the rotation options, but largely unsettled behind the first three pitchers, Mathews has a real chance to stick around the big league facility for most of the spring.
The back of the staff is wide open, with Kyle Leahy and Andre Pallante likely holding down spots for now, but newcomers Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts could easily compete for positions alongside Mathews and others.
