Tink Hence

Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Optioned to Memphis

  Rotowire Mar 7, 2026

  The Cardinals optioned Hence to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Injuries limited Hence to just eight total appearances in the minors last year, during which he posted a 2.95 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 21.1 innings. He surrendered three earned runs in just 1.2 frames in the Grapefruit League, but he'll receive a bump up to Triple-A to begin 2026. The Cardinals have hinted toward shifting the 23-year-old righty into a relief role to combat his health issues, though the plan to develop him as a starter hasn't been completely abandoned.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Likely shifting to relief role

  Rotowire Feb 25, 2026

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that Hence will remain on a reliever's schedule for the remainder of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. The club has not officially closed the door on Hence being a starting pitcher, but signs are pointing to a permanent move to the bullpen for the 23-year-old. A former top-50 prospect, Hence has simply been unable to stay healthy as a starter, as he has yet to reach 100 innings in a season in his five years in pro ball. The righty was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement. Hence struck out one batter in a scoreless inning Tuesday out of the bullpen in his first appearance this spring.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Making spring debut Tuesday

  Rotowire Feb 24, 2026

  Hence will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. It will be the first game action since last July for Hence, who had another injury-shortened 2025 campaign in dealing with a lat strain and shoulder impingement. The Cardinals plan to keep Hence in a starting pitcher role for now, but an eventual move to the bullpen can't be ruled out if he's unable to improve his durability. The 23-year-old has yet to reach 100 innings in a pro season.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Will remain starter for now

  Rotowire Feb 15, 2026

  Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that moving Hence to a relief role is not something that has been "truly discussed at the moment," Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in December that the team had engaged in internal conversations about whether a move to the bullpen would be best for Hence's long-term health. However, the Cardinals have opted to keep the righty stretched out for now. Hence was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement, and he has yet to reach 100 innings in a pro season because of durability issues. He worked on mechanical changes this offseason and also incorporated a new stretching and recovery plan, and the 23-year-old entered spring training healthy. Hence is on the 40-man roster but has yet to advance past Double-A Springfield, and he could return to Springfield to begin the 2026 campaign.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Back on IL at Double-A

  Rotowire Jul 13, 2025

  Hence (undisclosed) was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Springfield on Saturday. 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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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Part of combined no-no at Double-A

  Rotowire Jun 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. Hence was making his first start for Springfield after five rehab outings as he came back from a right rib cage strain. He faced the minimum in his 4.1 frames, with his leadoff walk in the fourth inning immediately getting erased on a caught stealing. Zane Mills, Austin Love and Sean Harney followed Hence to complete the no-no. Hence got his pitch count up to 66 in the encouraging outing and will continue to build up his stamina.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: On Triple-A IL with rib cage strain

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2025

  Hence will begin the season on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis with a right rib cage strain, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. It's not clear how much time Hence might miss, but the good news is that the injury isn't related to his pitching arm. The 22-year-old has some of the best stuff in all of the minors but has struggled to stay healthy, having never reached 100 innings in a season. Hence posted a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames at Double-A Springfield in 2024.

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• Cardinals' Tink Hence: Protected from Rule 5 Draft

  Rotowire Nov 19, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2024

  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: Exits Double-A start as precaution

  Rotowire Jun 6, 2024

  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: Returns from minor-league IL

  Rotowire May 11, 2023

  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

  Rotowire May 9, 2023

  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

  Rotowire Apr 30, 2023

  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

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2023

  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

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2023

  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: Overpowering Single-A hitters

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2022

  Hence has a minuscule 1.15 ERA and 0.77 WHIP accompanied by a 53:10 K:BB through 10 starts (31.1 innings) for Single-A Palm Beach this season. They've been stretching the 2020 second-round pick out slowly this year, as his last two outings have been his longest at four innings apiece. That makes sense, considering that Hence threw just eight pro innings last season and is seen as a relatively high-risk prospect due to his slender build and somewhat violent delivery. A few days away from his 20th birthday, Hence has obviously raised his stock this year, but questions will linger about his ultimate role until he's able to quiet them by pitching deeper into games. Of course, the Cardinals may not even let him try to do that until next season.

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