Pine Bluff native Tink Hence was named to the St. Louis Cardinals’ 40-man roster Tuesday in advance of next month’s Rule 5 Draft.
The Rule 5 Draft, held each December, allows Major League Baseball teams without a full 40-man roster to draft certain non-40-man roster players from other clubs, according to MLB.com. Moving Hence, the Cardinals’ No. 2-ranked prospect, to the 40-man roster ensures other teams can’t poach him from the organization.
The 40-man roster includes all players on the 26-man roster, which is a team’s active roster during most of the season, as well as players on the injured lists, on leave for certain family reasons, and some minor leaguers.
Hence, a Watson Chapel graduate, is a right-handed starting pitcher who spent the past season and a half with Double-A Springfield (Mo.). St. Louis drafted him with the 63rd overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft. He finished the 2024 season with a 2.71 ERA.
St. Louis also added right-handed starter Tekoah Roby and closer Matt Svanson to the 40-man roster from Springfield, along with Triple-A outfielder Matt Koperniak. The Cardinals’ 40-man roster now sits at 39 players.