Tink Hence

Tink Hence

22-Year-Old PitcherP
St. Louis Cardinals AA
7-Day IL
Injury Undisclosed
Est. Return 7/28/2025
2025 Fantasy Outlook
It's generally good process to bet against young, undersized pitchers who throw really hard and have a mounting list of arm injuries. Hence, a 6-foot-1 righty with a mid-90s fastball, was unable to top his career-high 96 innings from 2023 due to nagging shoulder issues in 2024, and even in 2023, his production fell off a cliff as he wore down in the second half. Ignoring the injury and durability red flags, the rest of Hence's outlook is straightforward: he's got great stuff, a deep arsenal, and starter-level command. Now on the 40-man roster and exhibiting clear signs of fragility, it would make sense for the Cardinals to use his bullets in the big leagues as soon as they think he's ready, and that could be in the first half of 2025 if his arm and shoulder cooperate. It also wouldn't be surprising at all if Hence's arm was barking in spring training and he ended up needing elbow or shoulder surgery, so proceed with caution. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#368
ADP
Signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in March of 2025.
Back on IL at Double-A
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
Undisclosed
July 13, 2025
Hence (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Springfield on Saturday.
Analysis
Hence didn't make his season debut until late May as he recovered from a right rib cage strain, but it's not clear whether this latest trip to the IL is a recurrence or a different injury. The 22-year-old has been limited to just 21.1 innings in 2025, allowing five runs with a 14:6 K:BB over 10.2 frames during his time with Springfield.
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Pitching Stats
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Minor League Game Log
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Minor League Left/Right Pitching Splits (AA)
Since 2023
 
 
-13%
BAA vs LHP
2025
 
 
-20%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-9%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-37%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .213 228 63 22 43 8 1 4
Since 2023vs Right .245 372 113 31 82 18 1 10
2025vs Left .188 18 6 2 3 0 0 0
2025vs Right .150 24 8 4 3 1 0 1
2024vs Left .217 104 34 10 20 2 1 1
2024vs Right .198 216 75 16 39 9 0 4
2023vs Left .213 106 23 10 20 6 0 3
2023vs Right .339 132 30 11 40 8 1 5
Prospect Rankings History
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Defensive Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Tink Hence See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Hence's dynasty value peaked either last offseason after the Arizona Fall League or early in 2023 when he was having success (2.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 20.6 K-BB%) across 11 starts as a 20-year-old at High-A. The wiry 6-foot-1 righty got hit hard in 12 starts at Double-A, posting a 5.47 ERA, 4.98 FIP and 1.51 WHIP in 54.1 innings. According to Baseball America, Hence's famed plus curveball and backed up significantly and was a fringe-average offering at Double-A. Additionally, his fastball command was worse and he walked 9.2 percent of batters after never walking more than 7.7 percent at a prior stop. Given his slight frame, it was encouraging to see Hence throw a career-high 96 innings. He retained mid-90s fastball velocity while improving his above-average changeup, and he'll need to show improved results in a return to Double-A to avoid a continued tumble down prospect lists.
Hence has the look of a future top-five pitching prospect in the game, but it's still early. The undersized (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) righty was nearly unhittable in 16 starts at Single-A, logging a 1.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 33.8 K-BB% in 52.1 innings. He also added 8.1 innings in the Arizona Fall League, where he was the best pitching prospect. His mid-90s fastball has excellent movement and he may not be done adding velocity. Hence has a smooth and athletic delivery, and considering he turned 20 in August, it's possible he is just scratching the surface of his potential. His plus curveball is his best secondary, and his slider and changeup are already at least average, so he has a full starter's pitch mix. Pitching prospects often break our hearts, so we should be aware that while Hence is clearly an ascending dynasty asset, one serious arm injury would send him back outside the top 100.
More Fantasy News
Part of combined no-no at Double-A
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
June 21, 2025
Hence struck out eight over 4.1 scoreless innings as part of a combined no-hitter in Double-A Springfield's win over Corpus Christi on Friday.
Analysis
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Activated and sent to Double-A
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
June 17, 2025
The Cardinals activated Hence (ribs) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and transferred him from Triple-A Memphis to Double-A Springfield.
Analysis
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Cleared for rehab assignment
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
Ribs
May 21, 2025
Hence (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Palm Beach on Wednesday.
Analysis
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On Triple-A IL with rib cage strain
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
Ribs
March 28, 2025
Triple-A Memphis placed Hence on its 60-day injured list Friday due to a right rib cage strain, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
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Sent to Double-A
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
March 7, 2025
The Cardinals optioned Hence to Double-A Springfield on Friday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Should join 40-man roster
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
November 3, 2024
Hence, who was dealing with an undisclosed injury at the end of the season, is expected to be added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Analysis
The right-hander is one of St. Louis' top prospects, so it would be a major surprise if the organization leaves him unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. Hence posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB across 79.2 innings with Double-A Springfield in 2024, and he could make his MLB debut at some point next year.
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