Cardinals Assign Tink Hence to Florida Complex League

Tink Hence, a pitcher who was once considered a top prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals, has been assigned to the Florida Complex League after being designated for assignment on Saturday and clearing waivers on Thursday.

Originally selected in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, Hence was ranked among the top 100 prospects from 2023 to 2025, with MLB.com listing him as the Cardinals' third-best prospect heading into 2025. However, injuries limited his appearances to just eight in 2025, raising concerns about his durability.

After being converted to a bullpen role, Hence struggled with a 6.64 ERA and a 1.820 WHiP over 20.1 innings, striking out 20 batters while walking 18. This marks his second assignment to the Florida Complex League this year, following a previous stint starting April 30 due to a significant drop in velocity. At 24, Hence still has the potential to contribute to the Cardinals' future, although his development may face challenges.