Cardinals Reduce Spring Roster to 50

CARDINALS REDUCE SPRING ROSTER TO 50; NON-ROSTER PITCHER TINK HENCE ASSIGNED TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP

JUPITER, Fla., March 15, 2023 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that the team has assigned non-roster pitcher Tink Hence to minor league camp, reducing its Spring Training roster to 50 players.

Hence, 20, appeared in four games this spring, striking out five in 3.1 innings of work and allowing one earned run. The 2022 Florida State League Pitcher of the Year was appearing in his first Major League camp this spring.

The Cardinals have 36 Major League roster players and 14 non-roster invitees remaining in camp.

— STL —

I want to say it’s disappointing that Hence is going down, but he still needs at least another year before he’s ready. They should start him at Springfield and have him finish the year at Memphis. He looks like he could be a #2 starter in the long run; I’d say his ceiling is a #1 and his floor is a #5 or elite closer. He’s pretty much the concensus #3 prospect in the system behind Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn.