Cardinals Top Prospect Makes Bold Prediction About When He Will Make Team Debut

Should the Cardinals consider calling up their top prospect to add another rotation boost?

Jul 7, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A bag of baseballs sits in the Toronto Blue Jays dugout before / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals could use some more depth in the starting rotation and there is one interesting internal option to keep an eye on.

St. Louis currently is in last place in the National League Central at 6-7, but there should be reason for hope. The Cardinals' rotation seems to have taken a step forward so far this season and should be even better now that Sonny Gray is back.

While this is the case, it still wouldn't hurt to have a little more depth just in case even more injuries pop up. One player who could be an intriguing option is the Cardinals' No. 1 prospect Tink Hence.

Hence is just 21 years old, but he has made it known that he hopes that he will make his big league debut this season, according to MLB.com's John Denton.

"This might come as news to his big league bosses, but Tink Hence has his sights set on doing whatever it takes to get to St. Louis and pitch for the Cardinals in 2024," Denton said. Never mind that Hence is just 21 years old and still about as wispy thin as a chalk foul line, despite working hard to hang 195 pounds across his 6-foot-1 frame...

“I told myself, ‘This is the year!’” Hence said as transcribed by Denton. “So, it’s just about keeping my word to myself, proving that I’ve put in the work and developed to the point where I’m ready for this. I have that mindset now that I’m going to be a big-league starter and I’m going to compete at the highest level. So, just telling myself that. I’m putting that on my shoulders for this season.”

Hence was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2020 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and has shined in the organization ever since. He had a 1.38 ERA in 16 starts in 2022 and followed it up with a 4.31 ERA in 2023, but was called up to Double-A.

He's only made one start so far this season but didn't allow a run in five innings of work with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals.

It may be unlikely to see him in the big leagues this season, but it's certainly an interesting idea.

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