The St. Louis Cardinals have chosen pitching prospects Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews to represent the organization in this year’s Futures All-Star Game. All-Star weekend will be held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, home of the Rangers.
As the organization’s top prospect, this was a simple pick. He has electrifying talent and should perform well in the major leagues. Mathews’ pick should come as no surprise to anyone who follows minor league baseball. This season, the lefty has delivered a fantastic performance.
Cardinals Have an Electric Arm in Hence
Hence, a young righty, has done well at Double-A Springfield this season. However, he still has to improve his consistency and stamina. So far, the youthful flamethrower has a 4-2 record, a 3.29 ERA, a.221 batting average against, and a 1.13 WHIP in 54.2 innings pitched.
This will be Hence’s second straight appearance at the Future’s All-Star Game, having represented St. Louis previous season. The 21-year-old has demonstrated the ability to make it to the big leagues with good command, a top-notch fastball with plenty of movement, and a variety of speeds.
Mathews Continues to Impress
Mathews earned a lot baseball news in 2023 after throwing 156 pitches for Stanford in a Super Regionals game versus Texas. His usage at Stanford sparked numerous controversies. However, he will never reach 150 pitches in the pros. Furthermore, experience is valuable, and it should help him advance swiftly through the minor leagues.
Mathews, who is 6’4″, was selected minor league pitcher of the month in April. He went 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, allowing just one run in 18 innings pitched. Furthermore, he had a 0.89 WHIP, 38 strikeouts, and only allowed seven hits in his first four professional starts. The southpaw recorded two outings with eleven or more strikeouts and no walks, including a 13-strikeout game against Fort Myers on April 26.
In 2024, the young pitcher has built on his great start, going 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA,.143 batting average against, and 0.78 WHIP in 79.2 innings pitched. The young lefty earned crucial big-game experience while pitching for Stanford, where he competed in two College World Series games. Furthermore, he has demonstrated the capacity to dive deep into games. The young lefty’s future seems bright, and he has a solid chance of making the big leagues by 2025.
Strong Pitching Prospects On the Horizon
The Cardinals have a number of intriguing pitching prospects who are on the verge of making the big league team. If even a few of them work out, it will be a major boost for an organization that has struggled to develop pitching. Randy Flores did a fantastic job drafting. The fans can only hope that the coaching team does not disappoint them in the last stages of their development.
