Tink Hence was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on August 6, 2002. He played high school baseball at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff, AR. He was the top-ranked RHP and the second-ranked overall player in Arkansas. Hence in his senior season pitched three innings before the season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence was ranked the 20th RHP nationally and the 64th overall high school player. He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.
When Was Tink Hence Drafted?
Hence was ranked the 84th overall prospect entering the 2020 draft and the 25th high school prospect. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the draft.
Tink Hence Cardinals Tenure
2021
Hence pitched for the Cardinals rookie league team making eight appearances with one of those appearances coming as a start going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA, a 1.75 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in eight innings.
2022
Hence pitched at Single-A Palm Beach making 16 starts going 0-1 with a 1.38 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts in 52.1 innings. In the fall he pitched in the Arizona Fall League for Salt River making nine appearances going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and nine strikeouts in 8.1 innings.
2023
Hence was ranked the 47th prospect by Baseball America and 77th by MLB.com. He pitched across two levels pitching at High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. He made 23 starts going 4-6 with a 4.31 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts in 96 innings. Hence also pitched in the Futures Game going one inning giving up one hit, walking one, and striking out one.
Future
ITD ranks Hence as the 68th overall prospect and the Cardinals second-ranked prospect. He is expected to start the season at Double-A in 2024.
