2025 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
The writing has been on the wall for multiple years that Hence can't handle a starter's workload, and he was limited to 21.1 innings in 2025 due to a ribcage strain that delayed his start to the season and an undisclosed injury that ended his season in July. He still missed bats when he pitched (27.9 K%) but his control was the worst it has ever been (15.1 BB%) and there are more reasons than ever to expect Hence to end up in the Cardinals bullpen long term, assuming his arm holds up for that role. The slight 6-foot-1 righty has had trouble putting good weight on his body and he is already on the 40-man roster despite never pitching at Triple-A. The new Cardinals regime may not pull the plug on Hence as a starter right away in 2026, but for planning purposes in dynasty leagues, his clearest path to providing fantasy value is as the team's closer in 2027 or 2028, but it's probably more likely he needs a major arm surgery before then. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in March of 2025.
Likely shifting to relief role
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Wednesday that Hence will remain on a reliever's schedule for the remainder of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
The club has not officially closed the door on Hence being a starting pitcher, but signs are pointing to a permanent move to the bullpen for the 23-year-old. A former top-50 prospect, Hence has simply been unable to stay healthy as a starter, as he has yet to reach 100 innings in a season in his five years in pro ball. The righty was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement. Hence struck out one batter in a scoreless inning Tuesday out of the bullpen in his first appearance this spring.
The club has not officially closed the door on Hence being a starting pitcher, but signs are pointing to a permanent move to the bullpen for the 23-year-old. A former top-50 prospect, Hence has simply been unable to stay healthy as a starter, as he has yet to reach 100 innings in a season in his five years in pro ball. The righty was limited to just eight appearances in 2025 due to a lat strain and shoulder impingement. Hence struck out one batter in a scoreless inning Tuesday out of the bullpen in his first appearance this spring.
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Minor League Game Log
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Minor League Left/Right Pitching Splits (AA)
Since 2023
-13%
BAA vs LHP
2025
-20%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .213 | 63 | 22 | 43 | 4 |
| Since 2023vs Right | .245 | 113 | 31 | 82 | 10 |
| 2025vs Left | .188 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025vs Right | .150 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2024vs Left | .217 | 34 | 10 | 20 | 1 |
| 2024vs Right | .198 | 75 | 16 | 39 | 4 |
| 2023vs Left | .213 | 23 | 10 | 20 | 3 |
| 2023vs Right | .339 | 30 | 11 | 40 | 5 |
Prospect Rankings History
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
It's generally good process to bet against young, undersized pitchers who throw really hard and have a mounting list of arm injuries. Hence, a 6-foot-1 righty with a mid-90s fastball, was unable to top his career-high 96 innings from 2023 due to nagging shoulder issues in 2024, and even in 2023, his production fell off a cliff as he wore down in the second half. Ignoring the injury and durability red flags, the rest of Hence's outlook is straightforward: he's got great stuff, a deep arsenal, and starter-level command. Now on the 40-man roster and exhibiting clear signs of fragility, it would make sense for the Cardinals to use his bullets in the big leagues as soon as they think he's ready, and that could be in the first half of 2025 if his arm and shoulder cooperate. It also wouldn't be surprising at all if Hence's arm was barking in spring training and he ended up needing elbow or shoulder surgery, so proceed with caution.
More Fantasy News
Making spring debut Tuesday
Hence will make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
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Will remain starter for now
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Saturday that moving Hence to a relief role is not something that has been "truly discussed at the moment," Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis
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Role change considered
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Wednesday that the team has had internal conversations about whether to move Hence from a starting role to relief pitching, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis
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Back on IL at Double-A
Double-A Springfield placed Hence on the 7-day injured list Saturday due to an undisclosed injury.
Analysis
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Part of combined no-no at Double-A
Hence struck out eight over 4.1 scoreless innings as part of a combined no-hitter in Double-A Springfield's win over Corpus Christi on Friday.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Should join 40-man roster
Hence, who was dealing with an undisclosed injury at the end of the season, is expected to be added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Analysis
The right-hander is one of St. Louis' top prospects, so it would be a major surprise if the organization leaves him unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. Hence posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB across 79.2 innings with Double-A Springfield in 2024, and he could make his MLB debut at some point next year.
The right-hander is one of St. Louis' top prospects, so it would be a major surprise if the organization leaves him unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. Hence posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 109:26 K:BB across 79.2 innings with Double-A Springfield in 2024, and he could make his MLB debut at some point next year.