Cardinals Manager Optimistic About Prospect's Injury Recovery

Oli Marmol believes Quinn Mathews can bounce back stronger after injury-plagued 2025 season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Quinn Mathews is expected to be a key part of the team's future, but he missed a large chunk of the 2025 season due to injuries. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, however, believes the setback can actually help Mathews in the long run, as it has allowed him to learn more about himself and how to overcome adversity at the highest level.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are entering a rebuild, so Mathews is seen as one of the most important players in the organization. His development and ability to bounce back from injury will be crucial to the team's future success.

The details

Mathews is expected to make his MLB debut at some point this season, though the Cardinals are unlikely to rush him given the amount of time he missed last year. Marmol believes the experience of dealing with the injuries will ultimately benefit Mathews, as it has allowed him to learn more about himself mentally and physically in order to come back stronger.

  • Mathews missed a large chunk of the 2025 season due to injuries.
  • Mathews is expected to make his MLB debut at some point during the 2026 season.

The players

Quinn Mathews

A top pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization who is expected to be a key part of the team's future, despite missing significant time in 2025 due to injuries.

Oli Marmol

The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, who believes Mathews can bounce back stronger from his injury-plagued 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“You don't want that for the player, but at the same time, you learn a lot about the player, and sometimes it allows you to collapse time and get to the end game quicker when you do have an experience like he had last year.”

— Oli Marmol, Cardinals Manager (Sports Illustrated)

What’s next

Mathews is expected to make his MLB debut at some point during the 2026 season, though the Cardinals are unlikely to rush him given the amount of time he missed last year.

The takeaway

This story highlights the Cardinals' belief in Mathews' long-term potential, as well as Marmol's optimistic approach to helping the young pitcher bounce back from his injury-plagued 2025 season. The team seems to view Mathews' setback as an opportunity for growth, rather than a lost year, which could pay dividends as he looks to establish himself at the big-league level.