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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
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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
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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
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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.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Wednesday that the team has had internal conversations about whether to move Hence from a starting role to relief pitching, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The Cardinals' main focus for Hence this offseason has been on a training and strengthening program, as well as some mechanical adjustments. The hope is that those things will help the 23-year-old stay healthy, but shifting Hence's role is also on the table. Hence was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement, and injuries have prevented him from ever reaching 100 innings in a minor-league season. The righty entered the offseason healthy and without limitations.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Back on IL at Double-A
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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
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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: Activated and sent to Double-A
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The Cardinals activated Hence (ribs) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and transferred him from Triple-A Memphis to Double-A Springfield.
Hence got a late start to the season due to a right rib cage strain, but he's made five rehab starts, allowing two runs with a 10:7 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The top prospect will now join the rotation at Springfield, where he held a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames in 2024.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: Cleared for rehab assignment
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Hence (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Palm Beach on Wednesday.
Hence has been sidelined all season with a right rib cage strain but has finally been cleared to test things out in game action. The top prospect will eventually move up to Triple-A Memphis but will be brought along slowly, given his injury history.
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Cardinals' Tink Hence: On Triple-A IL with rib cage strain
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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: Sent to Double-A
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The Cardinals optioned Hence to Double-A Springfield on Friday.
The right-hander is one of the organization's top prospects and was added to the 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Hence was limited to 79.2 innings last season at Springfield due to back and lat discomfort, but he was dominant when available with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB. Returning to the Double-A level is a bit of a surprise, and it shouldn't be long before he's bumped up to Triple-A Memphis.
Cardinals' Tink Hence: No limitations in spring training
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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.
Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.
Cardinals' Tink Hence: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
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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
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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: Strikes out four in return
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Hence (shoulder/chest) allowed one hit and struck out four over 1.2 innings in Double-A Springfield's game Saturday versus Corpus Christi.
Hence missed a month while dealing with shoulder and chest tightness, so it makes sense the Cardinals will play it slow to avoid further damage for their top pitching prospect. Hence will likely continue to see short outings, and his injury troubles this year -- which have cost him the better part of two months -- could prevent him from reaching Triple-A before the end of the campaign.
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