Tink Hence

Tink Hence

22-Year-Old PitcherP
St. Louis Cardinals AA
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.
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
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.
Read More News
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
Minor League Game Log
calculator icon
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Minor League Left/Right Pitching Splits (AA)
Since 2023
 
 
-15%
BAA vs LHP
2025
 
 
-29%
BAA vs LHP
2024
 
 
-9%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-37%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .211 220 62 22 41 8 1 4
Since 2023vs Right .247 369 113 31 82 18 1 10
2025vs Left .125 10 5 2 1 0 0 0
2025vs Right .176 21 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
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Tink Hence See More
Relief Pitching Prospect Rankings: Future Closers To Watch
63 days ago
James Anderson provides the top relief pitching prospects for your dynasty leagues on all 30 teams, plus the top reliever prospects to add in dynasty leagues, led by Rays lefty Mason Montgomery!
Farm Futures: Noteworthy MiLB Assignments
82 days ago
James Anderson analyzes the most noteworthy level assignments for the game's top prospects, including A's slugger Nick Kurtz, who got pushed to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Minor League Barometer: Risers & Fallers
89 days ago
With a few games completed, Jesse Siegel has discussed some prospects' early returns and future plans.
The Z Files: Normalizing the ATC Pitching Projections
110 days ago
Todd Zola tries to remove volume from the equation when determining the value of pitchers, and finds that the market may have over-corrected on Logan Webb.
Farm Futures: Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Rookies For 2025
138 days ago
James Anderson releases his top 100 prospects for 2025 fantasy baseball leagues, in which Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews' massive stolen-base upside places him in the top tier!
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
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Sent to Double-A
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
March 7, 2025
The Cardinals optioned Hence to Double-A Springfield on Friday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
No limitations in spring training
PSt. Louis Cardinals  AA
January 27, 2025
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.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
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.
See All MLB Rumors