‘His stuff is real’: Cardinals prospect Tink Hence flashes highly rated arm in backfield action

St. Louis Post-Dispatch writers Derrick Goold and Daniel Guerrero discuss the St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training early program on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla. Video by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com

JUPITER, Fla. — When 20-year-old Cardinals pitching prospect Tink Hence takes the mound, he says he only sees three things.

“It’s just me, the catcher, and the hitters,” he said. “I’m not really paying much attention to what’s around me, but I’m just focusing on attacking the hitter and trying to get better.”

But on Tuesday, the 20-year-old couldn’t help but notice Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, manager Oliver Marmol, and pitching coach Dusty Blake in attendance for his first live bullpen on the backfields of the Cardinals’ training complex in Jupiter, Fla.

“I saw them before I went up there so it’s exciting just to see the guys that just want to see me compete or help me,” Hence said with a smile on Wednesday.

Hence, who has not pitched above Class Low-A, faced a group of hitters made up of Alec Burleson, Moises Gomez, Oscar Mercado, and Jose Fermin. The righty managed to get two of the four hitters out by inducing a groundout against Mercado and a strikeout of Gomez — minor league baseball’s home runs leader in 2022.

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How did Hence feel a day removed from the live session?

“It’s amazing, especially being my first live BP of spring,” Hence said. “A lot of excitement going out there. A lot of adrenaline. It felt good just facing hitters and also not only just learning about the hitters, but also myself just kind of seeing what I need to work on and being ready to compete.”

“It’s electric stuff,” the Cardinals manager said. “Surely good life to his pitches. His stuff is real. Being able to see him face some hitters and see how the hitters were reacting to him was definitely fun.”

The “real stuff” Marmol referred to includes a fastball that was in the high-90s last year and has touched 100 mph at times. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Hence pitched to a 1.38 ERA and struck out 81 batters over 52 1/3 innings with Class Low-A Palm Beach last season.

After the minor league season wrapped up, Hence’s year continued at the Arizona Fall League where he pitched 8 1/3 innings of relief, allowed two runs, and struck out nine as one of the youngest pitchers in the “finishing school” for prospects. In total, Hence also walked 19 batters combined between Class Low-A and the fall league.

The success earned Hence a non-roster invite to Cardinals camp making him the second-youngest player in attendance and has given him a close-up in front of the Cardinals’ big-league staff.

“It allows you to dream on him a little bit of what’s possible for him if he continues to dedicate himself to the things that matter,” Marmol said of the righty. “(It’s) one thing to have talent. It’s going to be fun to watch his level of dedication. He goes about it really well. And he’s asking the correct questions. When you have that talent, and then have that approach to it, it’s a great combination. One, we definitely look forward to seeing more.”

Since getting drafted out of West Chapel (Ark.) High School by the Cardinals in 2020, Hence has been limited to 60 1/3 innings total while in the minors. He went through a gradual build-up in innings after making his Palm Beach debut last May that kept him at a maximum of three innings across his first eight starts and eventually let him get through the fourth inning in five of his last eight starts. He is due for a similar gradual increase in innings this upcoming season.

He noted earlier this offseason that the workload showed him how to manage his body. Through the first few weeks of his first spring training in big-league camp, the 20-year-old already has some takeaways.

“Just learning that every pitch doesn’t have to be the perfect pitch,” Hence said. “Just kind of getting a rhythm and just building consistency throughout my whole repertoire. Just being consistent and just learning to trust my stuff as well.”

Scenes from Cardinals spring training workouts full-squad workouts on Feb. 22, 2023

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws in the bullpen at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras walks out to catch live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos pitches live batting practice at the team’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The timer to the right is to help pitchers get used to the new pitch clock that will be used this season. 

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws in the bullpen before taking the mound for live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt signs autographs for fans after practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tyler O’Neill trots around the base paths as the players practice base running at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals infielder Juniel Querecuto takes some warmup throws during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, left, and prospect Jordan Walker talk with each other between drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras makes a throw during fielding drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado laughs with teammates after they finished a fielding drill at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Lars Nootbaar watches batting practice with his Japanese headband during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Nootbaar will be playing for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak watches players on the field during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Lars Nootbaar watches batting practice with his Japanese headband during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Nootbaar will be playing for the Japanese team in the World Baseball Classic. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson watches teammates in the batting cage during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, left, and prospect Jordan Walker talk with each other between drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman practices fielding drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner, left, and Nolan Arenado congratulate each other after fielding drill at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, left, and prospect Jordan Walker talk with each other between drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras makes a throw during fielding drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals coach José Oquendo, left, talks with infielder Jeremy Rivas at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals infielder Juniel Querecuto takes fielding practice during workouts at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals prospects Moises Gomez (36) and Jordan Walker talk in the outfield during practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman prepares to step to the plate for live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Packy Naughton pitches live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan prepares to step to the plate for live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos pitches live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The timer to the right is to help pitchers get used to the new pitch clock that will be used this season. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos pitches live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The timer to the right is to help pitchers get used to the new pitch clock that will be used this season. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach Turner Ward watches player practice base running drills at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos pitches live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The timer to the right is to help pitchers get used to the new pitch clock that will be used this season. 

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Moises Gomez walks back to the bench after taking live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals prospect Masyn Winn walks to another field for batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Alec Burleson steps to the plate to take live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals Jose Fermin takes live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson prepares to take live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman watches live batting practice at the Cardinals spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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