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Top Tink Hence News
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Sent to Double-A
The Cardinals optioned Hence to Double-A Springfield on Friday.
The right-hander is one of the organization's top prospects and was added to the 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Hence was limited to 79.2 innings last season at Springfield due to back and lat discomfort, but he was dominant when available with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB. Returning to the Double-A level is a bit of a surprise, and it shouldn't be long before he's bumped up to Triple-A Memphis.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: No limitations in spring training
Hence will enter spring training without limitations after he threw just 79.2 innings in 2024 due to back and right lat discomfort, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Cardinals selected Hence's contract from Double-A Springfield on Tuesday.
Hence has had trouble staying on the mound, having never reached 100 innings in a season. He was terrific over his 79.2 frames in 2024, however, collecting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB with Springfield. Hence is now protected from the Rule 5 Draft.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Suffers injury Wednesday
Hence was lifted after just 1.1 innings in his start Wednesday with Double-A Springfield due to an apparent injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. He gave up one hit and one walk and struck out one batter before departing.
In what was his final start of the regular season, Hence lasted just 29 pitches and was pulled after his control suddenly betrayed him. According to Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Hence walked the final batter he faced on four pitches and threw four of his final six pitches of the night in the dirt, perhaps hinting at some sort of arm injury. Springfield will begin its postseason Tuesday, but it's unclear if Hence will be available following his early exit. He was brilliant when healthy for Springfield during the regular season, finishing with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB in 79.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Strikes out four in return
Hence (shoulder/chest) allowed one hit and struck out four over 1.2 innings in Double-A Springfield's game Saturday versus Corpus Christi.
Hence missed a month while dealing with shoulder and chest tightness, so it makes sense the Cardinals will play it slow to avoid further damage for their top pitching prospect. Hence will likely continue to see short outings, and his injury troubles this year -- which have cost him the better part of two months -- could prevent him from reaching Triple-A before the end of the campaign.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Throws side session
Hence (undisclosed) threw a side session last weekend, but did not attend the Futures Game as he opted to focus on getting healthy and returning to action for Double-A Springfield, KY3 News reports.
He exited a June 5 start with what the Cardinals labeled as "cramping" and then pitched one inning June 23, but he has never been placed on the injured list despite throwing just three innings since the start of June. As an undersized, hard-throwing 21-year-old, Hence is at a high risk of arm injuries, so it makes sense for he and the team to focus on following the rehab process rather than appearing in the Futures Game. On the season, Hence had a 3.29 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 54.2 innings. He may have worn down last season, as he logged much worse stats across the board in the second half, although that also coincided with him getting bumped up to Double-A.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Exits Double-A start as precaution
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Thursday that Hence exited his start with Double-A Springfield on Wednesday after just two innings due to cramps, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Mozeliak referred to the move as "precautionary," although it's not clear whether Hence will be ready for his next scheduled start. The top prospect has been dynamite for Springfield in 2024, collecting a 3.19 ERA and 71:16 K:BB over 53.2 innings covering 11 outings.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Climbs to Double-A
Hence was promoted to Double-A Springfield on Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
The 20-year-old righty missed a month early in the year with chest/oblique tightness, but he still made 11 starts with High-A Peoria, logging a 2.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 46:12 K:BB in 41.2 innings. The last-place Cardinals haven't gotten much consistent production from their rotation members, outside of Jordan Montgomery, but it would still be a stretch for Hence to climb to the big leagues this season. If he stays healthy, he should figure prominently into the 2024 rotation mix.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Returns from minor-league IL
Hence (chest) was activated from the minor-league injured list Thursday at High-A Peoria.
Hence is scheduled to return to Peoria's starting rotation Friday after missing nearly a full month due to chest tightness. It sounds like the Cardinals were mostly playing things cautiously with the 20-year-old top pitching prospect, who has delivered a sparkling 2.12 ERA and 103:21 K:BB through his first 68 professional innings. He had logged two scoreless starts this season in High-A ball before landing on the IL.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Nearing return at High-A
Hence (chest) is expected to return to the rotation at High-A Peoria on Friday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Hence has been on the minor-league injured list since mid-April due to chest tightness. The 20-year-old top prospect logged two starts with Peoria before hitting the shelf, working 7.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He pitched to a brilliant 1.38 ERA and 81:15 K:BB over 52.1 innings last summer at Low-A Palm Beach.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Dealing with minor injury
Hence, who has been on the 7-day injured list at High-A Peoria, avoided serious injury after being bothered by chest tightness and could be activated soon, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
It's good to hear that Hence was dealing with a chest issue rather than an elbow or shoulder issue. He has not pitched since April 13 and was expected to throw high-intensity bullpen sessions this week. If he has remained on his scheduled throwing program, Hence could be activated in the first half of May.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Placed on minor-league IL
Hence (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list Tuesday at High-A Peoria.
Hence was pulled from his second start of the year last Thursday at Peoria after throwing a wild pitch and then promptly getting a visit from the training staff. There is no update as to the exact nature of the injury. It was downplayed initially and he had been scheduled to throw off a mound this week. The 20-year-old right-hander is a top-ranked prospect in the Cardinals' system.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Exits start with trainers
Hence (undisclosed) exited his start at High-A Peoria with trainers Thursday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Hence worked 3.2 innings before athletic trainers visited him on the mound. He subsequently exited, though the nature of the injury is currently unclear.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Hence was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Hence was a bit wild but very impressive during his first major-league camp. The Cards have been very careful with the 20-year-old's workload and that should continue in his likely move up to High-A Peoria to start the 2023 season.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-1, 175 lbs |
| Birthplace: Pine Bluff, AR |
| Age: 22 |
| Experience: R |
| Bats/Throws: R, R |
