Since he didn’t have much of a full spring training to build a rapport with Cardinals catchers, he started calling his own pitches via PitchCom for the first time — and had a terrific season. Over 61 1/3 innings, Maton had a career-best 2.79 ERA with a 32.7 percent strikeout rate, his highest figure since the shortened 2020 season.
Known around the league for his pitching IQ, Maton also reworked his mechanics, helping him boost his velocity. Maton has never thrown especially hard. But he increased the average velocity on his cutter from 88.7 mph in 2024 to 90.6 mph in 2025. With teams continuing to value velocity, it’s not out of the question to think Maton may find a way to reach another gear.