Pine Bluff native Tink Hence will make his second straight appearance in the MLB All-Star Futures Game this month.
Hence, a Watson Chapel graduate, will be one of nine pitchers to represent the National League in the game, which will be played at 3:10 p.m. July 13 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The Futures Game consists of some of the top prospects from across the minor leagues. Hence, a right-handed pitcher for the AA Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals, will join teammate Quinn Mathews, a left-handed pitcher, in representing the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the game.
Hence is 4-2 so far this season with a 3.29 ERA. He has started 12 games and pitched 54 2/3 innings. He has amassed 73 strikeouts with 17 walks while allowing 20 earned runs on 45 hits. Hence is rated as St. Louis’ No. 1 prospect.
He made his Futures Game debut last season. He pitched a scoreless second inning in a 5-0 National League victory. He allowed one hit and one walk, both with two outs, with one strikeout.
The Cardinals drafted Hence out of Watson Chapel in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He spent 2021 in a rookie league, then played Single-A ball in 2022. He started 2023 with the A+ Peoria (Ill.) Chiefs before moving up to AA Springfield last summer, just before playing in the 2023 Futures Game.
The Futures Game is part of MLB’s All-Star Weekend and will come one day after the HBCU Swingman Classic. Catcher and infielder Edwin De La Cruz will represent the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in that game.