Cardinals prospect Tink Hence exits early, Leonardo Bernal homers twice: Minor League Report (2024)

Cardinals top pitching prospect Tink Hence completed two innings, allowed one run, and threw 35 pitches (20 strikes) before exiting his Wednesday road start for Double-A Springfield before the bottom of the third inning began. It was unclear if Hence’s early exit was due to an injury. The 21-year-old right-hander did not show visible signs of discomfort during his last inning of work against Arkansas.

Hence was said to have walked “quickly” to the team’s clubhouse alongside Springfield trainer Alex Wolfinger after the conclusion of the top of the third inning, Arkansas play-by-play broadcaster Steven Davis noted during the MiLB TV stream. The broadcast showed Hence back in the Springfield dugout by the start of the eighth inning.

Hence completed a 1-2-3 first inning on 11 pitches before walking a batter, throwing a wild pitch, and allowing a pair of line-drive singles in the second. Twelve of his 24 pitches in the second frame missed the strike zone.

Through 11 Double-A starts, Hence has gone 4-2 with a 3.19 ERA across 53 2/3 innings. He’s struck out 71 batters and walked 16 for a 4.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB). A season ago, Hence held a 2.91 K/BB ratio in a career-high 96 innings between High-A and Double-A.

Here are other notable prospect performances around the Cardinals system:

Catcher Leonardo Bernal, Class High-A Peoria: With two swings, Bernal continued his hot stretch at the plate and helped lift Class High-A Peoria to a 7-3 comeback win against Fort Wayne. The switch-hitting 20-year-old belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at three runs apiece after Peoria trailed for 3-0 through the first five innings. After Joshua Baez broke the tie with a two-run home run in the seventh, Bernal hit a solo home run to provide an additional insurance run in the Chiefs’ road win. The two-for-four, four RBI night gives Bernal a .352 average and 15 RBIs in his last 15 games. He’s batting .272 with a .771 OPS in 44 games in his first season in High-A.

Right-handed pitcher Adam Kloffenstein, Class AAA Memphis: The righty was ejected with no outs in the fourth inning after he hit Omaha outfielder Drew Waters with a pitch and the benches cleared between the two teams. Kloffenstein’s 91.5 mph fastball on a 3-2 count hit Waters on his back and led Waters to throw his bat toward the Omaha dugout in frustration. Waters appeared to voice his frustrations and stepped towards the mound before home plate umpire Matt Brown stepped in front of Waters and ushered the Omaha center fielder down the first base line. The Memphis and Omaha benches and bullpens slowly emptied. No physical altercations occurred. Once players returned to their positions on the field and others retreated to their respective dugouts and bullpens, Kloffenstein was ejected by Brown. Kloffenstein walked by the Omaha dugout on his way off the field, but it was unclear if he exchanged words with any Omaha players or coaches as he made his way toward the left field gate. Kloffenstein allowed a run on a solo home run and struck out three batters before his ejection.

Left-handed pitcher Quinn Mathews, Class High-A Peoria: The quick-rising lefty threw six innings, allowed three runs, and struck out eight batters while walking two in his start for Peoria. Two of the runs Mathews allowed came in the first inning after a triple from Padres top prospect Ethan Salas scored Homer Bush Jr. from fist base after the Bush reached on a hit-by-pitch. Two at-bats later, Tyler Robinson’s single scored Salas from third. Mathews’ start against Fort Wayne was his sixth of the season with eight or more strikeouts. Between 10 starts in Low-A and High-A, the 2023 fourth-round pick has a 2.26 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings.