The Cardinals promoted Mathews from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Mathews will reach his fourth level this season in what has been a breakout campaign for the 23-year-old lefty. He leads the minor leagues with 180 strikeouts over 126.2 innings in his first three stops, posting a 2.27 ERA along the way. The left-hander was particularly dominant in his last five starts at Springfield, collecting a 0.85 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 49:5 K:BB over 31.2 innings. It might be a tough ask for Mathews to reach the majors in 2024, but he's positioning himself to spend ample time in the St. Louis rotation in 2025.
The Cardinals promoted Mathews from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Mathews is one of the biggest risers among pitching prospects this season, having dominated at both Single-A Palm Beach and Peoria, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 110:20 K:BB over 74.1 innings in 13 starts between the two stops. His 110 punchouts lead all minor leaguers. Mathews was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and didn't pitch in pro ball last season after throwing 124.2 innings in the spring as a senior at Stanford. He has elevated his standing in 2024 by showing a velocity spike.
