2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
No limitations in spring training
Hence will enter spring training without limitations after he threw just 79.2 innings in 2024 due to back and right lat discomfort, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
ANALYSIS
Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.
Hence had to be pulled early from a couple starts in June and then missed nearly a month around midseason due to the injury. He also exited his final outing of the season with another injury, although it's unclear if the same back/lat issue was the culprit. Durability is the only real negative with Hence's outlook, as he also missed time in 2023 with tightness in his chest and neck area. The 22-year-old was superb in 2024 when on the mound, posting a 2.71 ERA and 109:26 K:BB over 79.2 frames with Double-A Springfield. Hence was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason and should begin 2025 in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Hence's dynasty value peaked either last offseason after the Arizona Fall League or early in 2023 when he was having success (2.81 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 20.6 K-BB%) across 11 starts as a 20-year-old at High-A. The wiry 6-foot-1 righty got hit hard in 12 starts at Double-A, posting a 5.47 ERA, 4.98 FIP and 1.51 WHIP in 54.1 innings. According to Baseball America, Hence's famed plus curveball and backed up significantly and was a fringe-average offering at Double-A. Additionally, his fastball command was worse and he walked 9.2 percent of batters after never walking more than 7.7 percent at a prior stop. Given his slight frame, it was encouraging to see Hence throw a career-high 96 innings. He retained mid-90s fastball velocity while improving his above-average changeup, and he'll need to show improved results in a return to Double-A to avoid a continued tumble down prospect lists.
More Fantasy News
Protected from Rule 5 Draft
The Cardinals selected Hence's contract from Double-A Springfield on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
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Suffers injury Wednesday
Hence was lifted after just 1.1 innings in his start Wednesday with Double-A Springfield due to an apparent injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports. He gave up one hit and one walk and struck out one batter before departing.
ANALYSIS
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Strikes out four in return
Hence (shoulder/chest) allowed one hit and struck out four over 1.2 innings in Double-A Springfield's game Saturday versus Corpus Christi.
ANALYSIS
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Throws side session
Hence (undisclosed) threw a side session last weekend, but didn't attend the All-Star Futures Game while he instead opted to focus on getting healthy and returning to action for Double-A Springfield, KY3 Springfield reports.
ANALYSIS
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Exits Double-A start as precaution
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Thursday that Hence exited his start with Double-A Springfield on Wednesday after just two innings due to cramps, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
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.