After having not pitched in a minor league game since April 13, Cardinals prospect Tink Hence returned to the mound Friday for Class High-A Peoria and picked up where he left off before he was moved to the injured list with chest discomfort and tightness.
Hence, 20, tossed three scoreless innings allowed one hit, no walks, and struck out five batters on 32 pitches — 25 of which were strikes. The only hit Hence allowed was a one-out single on a line drive to center in the third inning. The 20-year-old righty revved his fastball up to 99 mph in the start against the Reds’ Class High-A affiliate, Dayton as two of five strikeouts on the evening were swinging strikeouts.