Former Watson Chapel star Tink Hence was looking for a bounce back after struggling in his first appearance of the spring last week against the Yankees. The other New York team was just what Hence needed as he was brilliant in two strong innings against the Mets this afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
Hence entered the game in the top of the 8th and delivered one ground ball out after another. He pitched two innings, giving up one hit and one unearned run when the Cardinals backup infield committed two errors. He had great velocity during his 42 pitch outing, twice hitting 97 m.p.h. on the gun.
He got praise during the ESPN national broadcast with former Major Leaguer Eduardo Perez saying “I am really impressed with Hence’s outing today, as everything he threw was sharp and down in the strike zone. I can see why he is one of the top 70 young prospects in all of baseball.”
Hence will get another chance to pitch this weekend, possibly against the Yankees again on Sunday. He could still make the Cardinals opening day roster or start out the season at AAA Memphis and wait for an early call up
