Cards' young fireballer draws ... Kershaw comps?
JUPITER, Fla. -- Dating back to the first time Cardinals roving instructor Ryan Ludwick saw left-hander Quinn Mathews flash his fiery competitiveness and overpowering stuff in a 2024 live batting practice session, one very favorable comparison kept coming to mind. Clayton Kershaw -- a career 212-game winner, two-time World Series
JUPITER, Fla. -- Dating back to the first time Cardinals roving instructor Ryan Ludwick saw left-hander Quinn Mathews flash his fiery competitiveness and overpowering stuff in a 2024 live batting practice session, one very favorable comparison kept coming to mind.
Clayton Kershaw -- a career 212-game winner, two-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star and three-time National League Cy Young Award winner -- was the comparison Ludwick conjured up. Undoubtedly, the Cardinals would be thrilled if the 24-year-old Mathews has a career as dominant as the Dodgers’ lefty.
Mathews, the Cardinals' No. 2-ranked prospect and No. 45 in baseball, showed why scouts and fans are so bullish about his future in Friday’s Spring Breakout game. Mathews threw three scoreless innings during a 3-3 tie against Miami's top prospects at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mathews, who struck out 202 batters last season and was named Minor League Baseball’s Pitching Prospect of the Year, fanned three Marlins and walked three on Friday.
Ever the perfectionist and often his harshest critic, Mathews said he never felt comfortable on Friday -- with his delivery or his stuff.
“I wasn’t sharp, and that’s fine because you are going to have outings like that,” said Mathews, who threw 49 pitches, but just 23 for strikes. “The key is how do you put together quality outings even when you are not at your sharpest or best? I made some pitches when I needed to, but there were at-bats that I gave away that I didn’t need to. Mechanically, I might need to address a few things.”
Ludwick, the Cardinals' Spring Breakout manager on Friday, said he was very impressed with Mathews, St. Louis' fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Though he made several qualifiers, Ludwick offered a very favorable pro comparison for the 6-foot-4, 214-pound Mathews, who he first saw compete in a fiery live batting practice session against hitters early in 2024.
“This is a huge [comparison], and I don’t like giving guys comps because it’s hard to live up to them at times,” Ludwick said. “But when I think back to that live [BP] that he threw, the guy who I saw young and in his first big league start was Clayton Kershaw. You know, big, tall lefty with good stuff. Obviously, he’s got a long road to go to become Clayton Kershaw, but the electricity he showed in that live [BP], and the way he rose through the system last year and competed at each level, you can see a bright future for him.”
Mathews, a native of Mission Viejo, Calif., was shocked to hear the comparison.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
“Obviously, that’s probably one of the biggest compliments you can get when you are getting compared to arguably the best arm in our conscious generation,” said Mathews, who pitched at four Minor League levels last season. “That’s a huge honor to get an acknowledgement like that. Maybe with the competitiveness, but I’m not as good physically. But maybe I’m as competitive as Kershaw.”
JJ Wetherholt, the top-ranked player in the Cards' system and No. 23 in baseball, lined out to left, grounded out and was hit by a pitch in his three plate appearances.
Mathews pitched well over his three innings, and he got some stellar defensive support from his teammates. Center fielder Nathan Church threw out Marlins first baseman Deyvison De Los Santos at the plate to end the second inning and keep the game scoreless. Then, catcher Jimmy Crooks -- St. Louis' No. 4 prospect, showed off his arm and quick transition by throwing out Jared Serna trying to steal second to end the third inning.
Mixing a changeup and a curveball with a fastball that topped out at 95 mph, Mathews threw a perfect first inning and pitched around two walks in the second. In the third, he fanned Carter Johnson with an 83 mph slider and fooled Javier Sanoja with a changeup.
“Quinn’s a perfectionist, kind of like how I am, so he felt like his stuff wasn’t good, but he still got three scoreless innings and he’s fine,” Crooks said with a laugh. "It’s a long Spring Training, and once the season rolls around, he’ll be a whole different Quinn Mathews, kind of like it was last year. He’s going to dominate, and I love catching him.”
Senior Reporter John Denton covers the Cardinals for MLB.com.
Palm Beach Cardinals Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals are excited to welcome a mix of familiar and new faces to their coaching staff for the 2025 season. Championship winning field manager Gary Kendall will return for his fourth season within the Cardinals organization. Last season, Kendall led the Beach Birds to
Dave Vonderhaar Selected for 2024 Florida State League Home Clubhouse Attendant of the Year
JUPITER, FL – In collaboration with Major League Baseball (MLB) Minor League Baseball (MiLB) has announced Palm Beach Cardinals clubhouse attendant Dave Vonderhaar as the 2024 Florida State League Home Clubhouse Attendant of the Year. This award is selected by MLB with nominations made by individuals across the industry, including
Palm Beach Cardinals Announce 2025 Season Schedule
JUPITER, FL – Minor League Baseball (MiLB) returns to America’s busiest ballpark this summer. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium will continue to be the home of the Palm Beach Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads for the 2025 season. Action gets underway when the Cardinals host the Hammerheads on April 4th in the
Kendall, Villarroel, Saladin, Lin, and Showalter Honored with Post-Season Awards
Sept. 19, 2024 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) announced on September 18th the league awards and All-Star teams for the three leagues that make up the Single-A classification. The Florida State League awards and All-Star team featured four Palm Beach Cardinals as well as manager Gary Kendall being named Manager
Palm Beach leans on 2024 draftees en route to FSL title
Not even Mother Nature could wash away the Palm Beach Cardinals this season. The Cardinals' Single-A affiliate claimed the Florida State League championship with a 6-4 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Wednesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. But six batters into the winner-take-all Game 3, the two clubs
Palm Beach Claims 2024 FSL Championship with a 6-4 Victory over Lakeland in Game Three
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals claimed their third Florida State League Championship, and second title all to themselves, after they defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 6-4 in a winner-take-all game three on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals earned the co-championship in 2017 with Dunedin
Palm Beach Forces Winner-Take-All Game Three with 8-4 Victory over Lakeland in Game Two
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals force a winner-take-all game three as they defeated the Lakeland Flying Tigers 8-4 in game two of the Florida State League Championship Series on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Lakeland put the pressure on Palm Beach immediately in the top of
Palm Beach Down 1-0 in FSL Championship Series with 7-6 Loss at Lakeland Sunday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals dropped the first game of the Florida State League Championship Series to the Lakeland Flying Tigers by a score of 7-6 on Sunday night at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. It is the first loss of the postseason for Palm Beach and
Palm Beach Sweeps Daytona to Advance to the FSL Championship Series
JUPITER, FL – For the first time since 2017, the Palm Beach Cardinals are going to the FSL Championship after completing the sweep of the Daytona Tortugas, winning on Thursday night by a final score of 12-4 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals will try to earn their third
Cardinals Take Game One Against Tortugas 8-3 on Tuesday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals set the tone early and never looked back as they defeated the Daytona Tortugas by a final score of 8-3 in game one of the FSL East Divisional Round on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Beach Birds’ bats immediately got to
Chen-Wei Lin named Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher for the Month of August
JUPITER, FL, September 5th, 2024 - Chen-Wei Lin has been selected as the Cardinals Organization Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August. Lin, the first Cardinals pitcher from Taiwan, had an extraordinary month, posting a 4-0 record with a 0.62 ERA (2 ER/29.0 IP), 0.90 WHIP, with 36 strikeouts
Ross Friedrick is Chasing his Childhood Dream
Ross Friedrick is a presence you can’t ignore. At a towering 6’3”, he is a force on the field and in the batter’s box. But there’s another layer there that you can’t ignore, and that’s his natural born leadership. Friedrick spent part of his childhood in St. Louis and it
Palm Beach Explodes for 12-1 Win Over Daytona on Saturday Night
JUPITER, FL – After starting the evening with a one hour and 55-minute rain delay, the Palm Beach Cardinals (78-46, 41-17) scored 12 unanswered runs to defeat the Daytona Tortugas (61-62, 30-27) by a final score of 12-1 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. With the win, Palm
Palm Beach Claims 2nd Half Division Title with 4-1 Victory over Daytona
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (77-46, 40-17) have claimed both halves of the 2024 regular season as they won the FSL East Division with a 4-1 victory over the Daytona Tortugas (61-61, 30-26) on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Tortugas have a four-game lead over
Nelfy Ynfante Selected for 2024 Rookie Level All-Star Team
JUPITER, FL, August 30, 2024 - On Thursday, August 29th, Minor League Baseball announced league awards and All-Star teams for the three leagues that make up the Rookie-level classification. The list featured Nelfy Ynfante, a current Palm Beach Cardinals player who began the season on the FCL Cardinals.Ynfante has played
Cardinals Defeat Tortugas 8-3 on Thursday Night on Lin's League-Leading 10th Win of the Season
JUPITER, FL – Behind another dominant start by Chen-Wei Lin (W, 10-5), the Palm Beach Cardinals (76-46, 39-17) defeated the Daytona Tortugas (61-60, 30-25) by a final score of 8-3 on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Lin became the first pitcher in the Florida State League to 10
Palm Beach and Daytona Split Wednesday Double Header
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (75-46, 38-17) and the Daytona Tortugas (61-59, 30-24) split a double header on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Palm Beach is now 8-6 in double headers this season but trail the regular season series 13-10 against Daytona. GAME ONE The Cardinals
Palm Beach Shut Out by Daytona 2-0 in Series Opener
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (74-45, 37-16) were shut out by the Daytona Tortugas (60-58, 29-23) by a final score of 2-0 in the series opener on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It is the seventh shutout loss of the season for Palm Beach and the
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PARTNERS WITH SNAPCHAT
August 27, 2024 — On August 28th, 2024, Snapchat is coming to Jupiter, FL as a part of their recently announced partnership with Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) to promote their “Less Likes, More Love” campaign to highlight how people use Snapchat to spread love. All 120 Minor League teams will
Jose Cordoba Delivers Third Walk-Off Hit of 2024 to give Palm Beach a 3-2 Victory Over Jupiter in Series Finale
JUPITER, FL – For the eighth time this season, the Palm Beach Cardinals (69-43, 32-14) delivered a walk-off win as they defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads (59-53, 23-23) by a final score of 3-2 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Jose Cordoba smacked his third
All Grit, No Brakes: Bryce Madron is Here.
Bryce Madron isn’t a stranger to putting his head down and getting it done. The 23-year-old Oklahoma native is coming into his professional baseball career with an exciting resume and rock solid work ethic. First, some back story: Madron grew up a car ride away from the University of Oklahoma.
Palm Beach Shut Out by Jupiter 5-0 on Saturday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (68-43, 31-14) suffered their ninth shutout loss of the season as they fell 5-0 to the Jupiter Hammerheads (58-52, 23-22) on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It is the first shutout loss against Jupiter in 2024 as Palm Beach still leads
Palm Beach Falls Late to Jupiter 4-2 to Even Series
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (68-42, 31-13) dropped game four of a six-game series to the Jupiter Hammerheads (58-52, 22-22) by a final score of 4-2 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium thanks to a three-run home run by Carter Johnson in the top of the
Cardinals Defeat Hammerheads 2-1 in 1:54 Contest Thursday Night
JUPITER, FL – In what was mostly a pitchers’ duel with combined eight hits and 1 hour and 54 minutes of game time, the Palm Beach Cardinals (68-41, 31-12) defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads (57-52, 21-22) by a final score of 2-1. In the regular season “Dual of the Dean” series,
Cardinals Bounce Back with 3-1 Victory over Hammerheads Wednesday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (67-41, 30-12) became the first Florida State League team with 30 wins in the second half of the season with a 3-1 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads (57-51, 21-21) on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. In the regular season “Dual of