Attention all St. Louis Cardinals fans! We have an exciting prospect to talk about today, and his name is Tink Hence. For four consecutive seasons, Hence has been a top performer on the VEB top prospects list, consistently ranking in the top 10. In fact, he was in the top 5 for the previous three years, which is an impressive feat. However, there's a twist to this story.
Hence's health has been a growing concern, which might have impacted his ranking this year. But here's the intriguing part: if we were to compare him to past seasons' prospects with similar profiles, he'd likely rank higher than 10. So, it's not just about his performance; it's also about the evolving strength of the system.
Let's take a look at the VEB top prospects list for this season:
- JJ Wetherholt
- Liam Doyle
- Rainiel Rodriguez
- Quinn Mathews
- Joshua Baez
- Jurrangelo Cjintje
- Leonardo Bernal
- Jimmy Crooks
- Brandon Clarke
- Tink Hence
Now, let's dive into the story of Jurrangelo Cjintje, who is facing off against other prospects in a head-to-head battle. Cjintje, by most measures, would have been in the top 7 if not for the timing of the Brendan Donovan trade. So, he's taking on each prospect individually until he either wins or loses his spot.
Here's a scouting report on Cjintje: "He's technically a switch pitcher, but his right-handed pitching is far superior. From the right side, he throws mid-90s and has reached 99 mph! He has a cutter and a sweeper, with the sweeper being his best pitch. He also throws an upper-80s change. On his left side, he's more of a two-pitch pitcher, throwing in the low 90s with a solid sweeper. The numbers don't lie; he walked more than he struck out from the left side, but his right-handed pitching is exceptional with a 5.0 K/BB ratio and only 3 home runs allowed in 34.1 IP."
Now, let's compare Cjintje to another player, Braden Davis, who was drafted in the 5th round in 2024. Davis has an elite changeup that generates an impressive number of strikeouts, but his other pitches need work, and he struggles with walking batters. On the other hand, Pete Hansen, drafted in 2022, has great command of his pitches and has excelled at each level. These two players are similar in some ways but differ in their strengths and weaknesses.
Moving on, we have some new additions to the list. I'm trusting my gut and adding Nathan Church and Yhoiker Fajardo. Church had a breakout season and debuted in the majors, which might impact his ranking compared to other non-prospects. Fajardo, on the other hand, is a young talent who dominated in the complex league, and I'm curious to see how he'll fare in the voting.
Next up is Jesus Baez, an intriguing infielder with an impressive profile. Despite his young age, he hasn't let any character concerns affect his performance. It's a fascinating case, and it'll be interesting to see where he lands on the list.
We also have Tanner Franklin, a right-handed pitcher who dominated in his limited appearances. His profile suggests he should be a highly ranked prospect, but he kept losing in head-to-head polls. It's a mystery why he wasn't selected earlier, but his supporters are passionate.
Ixan Henderson, a left-handed pitcher, might seem less exciting now due to the recent influx of pitching talent. However, he still has great potential, and the Cardinals' new regime seems to be focusing on finding under-the-radar pitchers.
Cooper Hjerpe, another lefty, hasn't pitched yet but has high potential. He's a risky pick due to injury concerns, but if that's your preference, he might get some votes now.
Brycen Mautz, a left-handed pitcher, has impressive stats and scouting reports. Fangraphs recently updated their list, and Mautz's potential hasn't moved, but he's slightly improved as a pitcher.
Deniel Ortiz, a first/third baseman, has elite performance across two levels, but Fangraphs hasn't included him in their top 53 prospects. It's a surprising omission, especially considering his age-appropriate performance.
Yairo Padilla, a 19-year-old shortstop, has an encouraging power projection, but his fielding potential seems low for his age and position.
Lastly, we have Tekoah Roby, a right-handed pitcher who was injured and needed Tommy John surgery. It's a shame, as he had a dominant season in AA before his injury. It's hard to say where he'd rank if he were healthy, but his potential is undeniable.
So, Cardinals fans, what do you think? Who are your top picks? Don't be shy; let's discuss and debate these prospects! Who will rise to the top, and who will fall short? It's time to voice your opinions and engage in some friendly sports talk!
