The Cardinals placed pitching prospect Tink Hence on the minor league 60-day injured list, as reflected on the MiLB.com transaction log. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak tells Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat that the 6’1″ righty sustained a right rib cage strain.
Hence is the #3 prospect in the St. Louis system at Baseball America. The 22-year-old is coming off a 2.71 ERA showing across 20 starts in Double-A. Hence was dominant on a rate basis. He recorded a fantastic 34.1% strikeout rate against a tolerable 8.1% walk percentage. Durability is the main question, as Hence averaged fewer than four innings per start. He tallied 79 2/3 frames overall.
Baseball America writes that Hence has the stuff and command of a potential top-of-the-rotation arm. Yet he has never reached 100 innings in a professional season. Hence missed a month midway through last season. He’s now evidently going to miss at least the first two months of this year. Once he’s healthy, he’ll be making his Triple-A debut.
The Cardinals added Hence to their 40-man roster in November to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. He’ll continue to count against the roster because he was placed on the minor league 60-day IL. The Cardinals could have recalled him and placed him on the MLB 60-day injured list to create a roster spot, but that would have begun his service clock.
Tink Hence has to be tough enough to overcome this injury. He made it through junior high with a name like Tink Hence. That must have toughened him up.
Perhaps he had to go Tink and Tink on his actions?
I’m not sure what’s more impressive, him going by “Tink Hence” through junior high school, or going by his real name “Markevian Hence”.
How do they come up with those names?
Hence, whose given first name is Markevian, told the Peoria Journal Star that his mother, Mekol, gave him the nickname “Stinker” when he was 5 years old. It evolved to “Tinker” and then “Tink.”
Regardless of how it really came to be, you KNOW there was at least one smartaleck 6th grader that called him Tinkerbell or some variation. At least until he got punched in the mouth.
What do you mean by “they”?
I’m thinking the same thing lol
Hence has been a hyped up player for several years now. Labeled as the next possible Cardinals Ace.
However — he’s not Physically tough to go along with all of his potential ability!!
In my opinion, Hence needs to be developed as a Closer from this point forward—- to take Helsey’s position in the future. Especially since he obviously doesn’t have the stamina needed for a starter —-
Plus, there are starters such as Mathews and McGreevy who have the strong potential of making it to the Bigs this season.
Develop Hence as a Closer —- should he develop better stamina and proves he can stay healthy— then talk a stretching him out as a starter.
This is the first time I’ve seen this thrown out there, but I REALLY like this idea. Hope it sticks.
He’s only 22. He’s got plenty of time to develop into a great starter.
Someone should schedule a lunch between Anthony Reyes and Tink Hence. The two probably have a lot to talk about.
You may be right. HIm and Hjerpe have been huge disappointments. I can kind of understand Hjerpe cause of the arm angle at which he throws, but even still, I just don;t get how these kids who are in their 20’s can’t stay healthy. I wonder if they push these kids too much.
There was an injury to Tink, Hence his placement on the IL.
I tink I understand your pun.
He’s only 22 but has trouble staying healthy. That’s not a good sign.
Hence is injured? Shocking.
Tinky Winky slid down the hillside while frolicking in field, Hence the IL placemat
Well my concerns about him being a top prospect like Alex Reyes seems to be coming true sadly. Great promise but too fragile.
I remember those days! The Cardinals could have gotten Quality Players in on trade for Reyes!!! Yet he was made off limits!
Reyes never panned out.
Cardinals Front Office never got that quality player they could have gotten for Reyes!
If they would have traded Reyes, you would just be on here complaining about that one too
Yes, trading the most promising Cardinal pitching prospect since Steve Carton wasn’t an option for me. Hind sight is great, but I didn’t know any fans who wanted them to trade Reyes.
Trade him to Tampa.
St. Louis may still say Hence is a future starter, but the numbers and injuries suggest otherwise. If he comes back and they still limit his innings, it’s a sign they’re preparing him for a bullpen role without admitting it yet.
Tink… short for Tinkle?
Does lanky now mean paper thin? He certainly isn’t tall.