Quinn Mathews and Jimmy Crooks of the St. Louis Cardinals won Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year honors, respectively. Mathews, a 24-year-old pitcher, excelled at four minor league levels, striking out 202 batters in 143.1 innings and finishing with a 2.76 ERA. Meanwhile, Crooks, a 23-year-old catcher, posted impressive stats of .321 batting average, 11 home runs and 62 RBIs in 90 games, solidifying his position as the Cardinals' No. 5 prospect.

Through the numbers

• Quinn Mathews struck out 202 batters in 143.1 innings at four minor league levels.
• Jimmy Crooks had a .321 batting average with 11 home runs and 62 RBIs in just 90 games.

state of affairs

• Mathews has a career-best innings pitched with 2,291 pitches thrown this season.
• Crooks wants to improve his explosiveness and strength in the offseason to prepare for the upcoming season.

What's next?

Both players are looking to build on their successes, with Mathews focused on recovering from the heavy workload and preparing for a longer pitching season. Crooks wants to improve his swing and health as he pursues a possible promotion to the big leagues by 2025.

Conclusion

Mathews and Crooks' successes reflect a strong future for the Cardinals organization and showcase their talent pipeline. As both players hone their skills this offseason, they could play a crucial role in the team's success in the years to come.