Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The state of Arkansas has had just three high school pitchers drafted in the first three rounds in the last two decades, none since the Indians made Dillon Howard as a second-rounder in 2011. Hence thrust himself into that neighborhood when he broke out during the fall. He hit 94 mph with his fastball at the Future Stars Series in September and then kicked his heater up to 96 at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October.

Hence lacks physicality but compensates with quick-twitch athleticism and a fast arm. His fastball sat at 93-95 mph with heavy sink during his WWBA outing and he displayed similar velocity during a brief look this spring before the high school season ended. He also shows aptitude for spinning the ball, flashing a plus slider at 76-81 mph, and demonstrates some feel for a changeup. 

Hence's arsenal, athleticism and ability to repeat his sound delivery give him a chance to remain a starter despite his small frame. The Arkansas recruit will be 17 on Draft day, adding to his appeal for teams that place a premium on age.

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

Hence was taken 63rd overall in the 2020 Draft, and it’s been a slow, meticulous process since. After being limited to only eight innings in 2021, the right-hander was dominant, while still heavily monitored, with a 1.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings at Single-A Palm Beach a year later. He set a career high with 96 frames in 2023 and earned his first in-season promotion by jumping from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield. But he struggled in the hitter-friendly Texas League, particularly in August when he had more earned runs (24) than strikeouts (20) in five starts before ending the season on a brighter note.

In Double-A, Hence sat 92-96 mph with a fastball that can get great ride up in the zone. He has a history of touching 99 in the pros, so there could be more in the tank. His mid-80s changeup had his best whiff rate, getting 32 misses on 51 swings (63 percent) in the Texas League, and the pitch made some hitters look foolish as it dove arm side. Notably, it also helped him post reverse splits and keep lefties in check. A mid-80s slider gives another above-average look with two-plane break, but he could hang it in the zone, leading Double-A batters to slug .613 off it. He pocketed a curveball that had flashed plus earlier in his career.

The 6-foot-1 hurler has still yet to crack 100 innings in a season, and he's been in and out of the Double-A rotation this summer due to various injuries. The stuff is there for him to be a mid-rotation starter, but he needs to prove durability or else it might be worth a look at turning him into a split-resistant reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

The Cardinals made Hence the highest Arkansas prep player selected since 2005 (Travis Wood, 60th overall) when they selected him 63rd in the shortened 2020 Draft. The organization has been cautious with the 6-foot-1 right-hander ever since. First, it limited him to only eight Florida Complex League appearances while they kept him heavily monitored in 2021. Then last season, St. Louis moved Hence to Single-A Palm Beach and originally kept him to a three-inning/50-pitch limit that expanded ever so slightly as the year went on. When Hence did pitch, he was downright dominant with a 1.38 ERA and 41.5 percent K rate in 16 starts (52 1/3 frames), earning him a limited run in the Arizona Fall League.

On a pitch-by-pitch basis, Hence looked like one of the most promising arms in the Minor Leagues in 2022. His mid-90s fastball, which touched 99 last year, explodes up in the zone and often leaves batters hacking and swinging below the pitch. As if that wasn’t enough, he’ll drop in an upper-70s curve with bite that gives him another whiff-heavy option below the knees. His mid-80s fading changeup and mid-80s slider give him two more above-average offerings and round out one of the best pitch mixes in the Minors.

Hence walked only 7.7 percent of his batters faced in the Florida State League, but the consistency of his command still needs work. That -- and Hence’s limited workload -- are the only knocks against him at this stage. The stuff needs to hold up into the fifth and sixth innings -- and over 100-plus frames overall -- before Hence could be considered a potential ace, but the individual pieces are there.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 55

The Cardinals selected Hence with the 63rd overall pick in 2020, making him the highest Arkansas high-schooler selected since Travis Wood (60th overall) in 2005. He signed for just north of slot at $1,115,000 after showing special velocity in tournaments during the previous fall. Don’t be alarmed just yet by his baseball-card statistics in the pros. Hence pitched only eight games in the Florida Complex League in 2021 as St. Louis wanted to keep him heavily monitored in West Palm Beach. Hence has been incredibly effective in short starts at Single-A Palm Beach this season with a strikeout rate comfortably above 40 percent.

Hence has always been pegged for a velocity jump, and that has come in the abbreviated outings this season to the point where he’ll sit 95-97 and has touched as high as 99 per Statcast. He showed a plus slider in high school, but has scrapped it since in deference to a 79-81 mph curveball with good spin and bite. He’s grown more and more confident in a mid-80s changeup with armside fade as 2022 has rolled along, and that pitch too gets a healthy whiff rate. 

The right-hander isn’t huge at 6-foot-1, but he uses every bit of his athleticism to showcase his electric arm. While he isn’t expected to get taller, he could fill out a little more as he matures, securing his velo gains in longer outings. The building blocks are there for Hence to see a Major League rotation someday, and after a breakout 2022, he could become one of the game’s best young pitchers when his workload increases again next summer.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The highest Arkansas prep pitcher taken since Travis Wood went 60th in 2005, the Cardinals selected Hence 63rd overall in 2020 and signed the supplemental second rounder for $1,115,000. The right-hander’s stock rose in the fall when his fastball was clocked at 94 mph during the Future Stars Series in September and followed that up with a 96 mph heater a month later at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship. He made his professional debut in 2021 in the Florida Complex League, where the Cardinals are keeping a close eye on him and building up his arm.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Hence has a small frame, but makes up for it with a quick arm and natural athleticism. In addition to the mid-90s fastball, he’s armed with a plus slider that reaches the low 80s and has shown a feel for a developing changeup.

Yes, he has a small frame, but Hence has a bunch of potential upside and the athleticism needed to remain a starter. Consistently around the strike-zone, Hence has shown the ability to locate his pitches with a smooth, repeatable delivery. If he’s ultimately moved to the bullpen, Hence’s fastball/slider combination may play up a bit and permit him to take on a high leverage role in the back-end of a bullpen.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

The Cardinals signed Hence for $1,115,000 as a supplemental second-rounder in June, drafting him 63rd overall and making him the highest Arkansas prep pitcher taken since Travis Wood went 60th in 2005. Hence broke out as a prospect during the fall, hitting 94 mph with his fastball at the Future Stars Series in September and reaching 96 a month later at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October. He was still 17 on Draft day, adding to his appeal for teams that place a premium on age. 

Though Hence lacks physicality at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, he compensates with quick-twitch athleticism and arm speed. His fastball sat at 93-95 mph with heavy sink during his WWBA outing and he showed similar velocity during a brief look this spring before the high school season ended prematurely. He also shows aptitude for spinning the ball, flashing a plus slider at 76-81 mph, and for using a changeup. 

Despite his small frame, Hence's athleticism gives him a chance to remain a starter. He has a sound delivery and repeats it well, making him an efficient strike-thrower. Should he wind up as a reliever, his fastball/slider combination could add more power in short stints and allow him to play a high-leverage role. 

Awards

TEX Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

TEX Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2024

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024
2023

TEX Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
04/2024

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2022

FSL Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2022

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2022

Baseball America Low Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2022

+ View More Awards

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	07/14/2024	National League Futures activated RHP Tink Hence.
	03/07/2024	St. Louis Cardinals Prospects activated RHP Tink Hence.
	01/10/2024	St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Tink Hence to spring training.
	07/10/2023	Springfield Cardinals activated RHP Tink Hence.
	07/07/2023	National League Futures activated RHP Tink Hence.
	07/07/2023	Springfield Cardinals placed RHP Tink Hence on the temporarily inactive list.
	07/01/2023	RHP Tink Hence assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Peoria Chiefs.
	05/11/2023	Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Tink Hence from the 7-day injured list.
	04/17/2023	Peoria Chiefs placed RHP Tink Hence on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2023	RHP Tink Hence assigned to Peoria Chiefs from Palm Beach Cardinals.
	04/05/2023	Peoria Chiefs activated RHP Tink Hence.
	01/17/2023	St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Tink Hence and to spring training.
	11/05/2022	RHP Tink Hence assigned to National League Fall Stars.
	11/05/2022	American League Fall Stars activated RHP Tink Hence.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated RHP Tink Hence.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated RHP Tink Hence.
	05/18/2022	RHP Tink Hence assigned to Palm Beach Cardinals from FCL Cardinals.
	04/25/2021	Cardinals Organization activated RHP Tink Hence. ABS test.
	07/03/2020	RHP Tink Hence assigned to GCL Cardinals.
	06/25/2020	St. Louis Cardinals signed RHP Tink Hence.