We’re about a week into the 2024 MLB season, and while it’s early the (3-3) St.Louis Cardinals will at some point have to make a decision on it’s No.2 overall prospect Markevian “Tink” Hence, who can bring it in the triple digits.
The club’s top pitching prospect has the stuff that you’d want in an ace of your staff, and with five of the team’s seven rotational pitchers either 32 or older Hence would inject some youth into the rotation.
Tink Hence Coming As Part of St. Louis Cardinals MLBbro Youth Movement
Hence, who spent much of the 2023 season with the Cardinals Double-A affiliate Springfield will also begin the 2024 season there.
Hence is expected to get the call-up to Triple-A sooner than later, and the belief is he could make his way to the Cardinals 26-man active roster by late season.
Until then, Hence will continue to refine his mound skills against some of baseball’s rising talents in the minors. If Hence’s performance in MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout is any indication, the Cardinals have to be excited.
Hence Had Dominant Outing
In two innings of work, the overpowering right-hander tallied three strikeouts of Miami Marlins hitters.
The three strikeouts came on three different pitchers, showcasing the arsenal that made him the No.63 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Even more impressive, it took him just 29 total pitches to get through the two innings.
Hence credited his added muscle in the offseason that has him up to 185 pounds and feeling as strong as ever for his play. In the aftermath of his outing he told reporters this.
“I feel it,” Hence said of his physical improvements. “The way I feel getting down the mound, and then with the way the ball is coming out, it’s a little easier. Today I was kind of top of stuff and the fastball had a lot of life like it usually does. So I was really excited about that.”
Hence Adding Pitches To Repertoire
Hence’s two best pitches are his overpowering fastball (95-96 MPH) with ability to climb to (98 MPH) and top notch curveball. After struggling with his command and control early in his career he’s refined that and those two are his money pitches.
He’s also tossing a change up that has some real potential. Per reports, there’s a cutter in the mix, which would give him four go-to pitches at the major league level, that’s the stuff of an ace.
Hence Hopes To Join Others From Draft Class In Majors
When Hence does finally receive that call, he’ll join a talented trio of MLBbros with the Cardinals in outfielders Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II, plus rising shortstop Masyn Winn.
Four MLBbros in the Cardinals lineup has a nice ring to it.
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