Tink Hence DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence (rib cage) is starting the 2025 season at Triple-A Memphis on the seven-day injured list with a right rib-cage strain, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. The team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will now miss the start of the minor-league season, but it's unclear exactly how much time he might miss. The right-hander was drafted by St. Louis in the second round of the 2020 draft and has some of the best stuff among young pitching prospects. However, the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder hasn't been able to stay healthy so far on the farm and has yet to reach the 100-inning mark due to various arm ailments. Last year in 20 starts for Double-A Springfield, Hence had a nice 2.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 109 strikeouts and 26 walks in 79 2/3 innings but missed notable time with a shoulder injury. If he continues to struggle to stay healthy, perhaps he'll be moved to a relief role.