Tink Hence, a name that has consistently ranked among the top prospects for the St. Louis Cardinals, is a player with an intriguing story. For four consecutive seasons, Hence has made it to the VEB top prospects list, and his talent has consistently placed him within the top 10. However, there's a twist to this narrative.
Despite his impressive ranking, some argue that Hence's health concerns have become a growing cause for worry. If we were to compare him to past seasons' prospects, his current status might even rank him higher than the current top 10. So, it's not just about his skills; it's also about the evolving strength of the system.
Now, let's delve into the rankings and the intriguing prospect battles:
- JJ Wetherholt
- Liam Doyle
- Rainiel Rodriguez
- Quinn Mathews
- (or 6) Joshua Baez
- (or 5) Jurrangelo Cjintje
- Leonardo Bernal
- Jimmy Crooks
- Brandon Clarke
- Tink Hence
Jurrangelo Cjintje: A Rising Challenger
In our prospect voting journey, we've introduced a unique format. Due to the trade of Brendan Donovan, we had already ranked the first seven prospects. So, Cjintje, who was expected to be among the top seven, now faces a series of head-to-head battles with the other prospects. He's already defeated Crooks and Bernal, and today's vote is a crucial one: Cjintje vs. Joshua Baez. If Cjintje wins, he moves on to face Quinn Mathews. But if he loses, he'll be ranked as the system's #6 prospect.
Scouting Report: Cjintje, a switch pitcher, showcases his talent more effectively from the right side, throwing mid-90s and reaching 99 mph. He has a cutter and a sweeper, with the latter being his stronger pitch. From his left side, he's a two-pitch pitcher, throwing in the low 90s with a solid sweeper. The numbers speak for themselves: he walked more than he struck out from the left side, but from the right, he dominated with a 5.0 K/BB ratio and fewer homers allowed.
Comparable Player Poll: Braden Davis vs. Pete Hansen
Sometimes, player comparisons just click. Braden Davis, a 5th-round pick in 2024, has an elite change that induces swings and misses, striking out 33% of batters in both Low A and High A. However, his other pitches need work, and he struggles with walking batters (16.6% for the season). Pete Hansen, a 3rd-round pick in 2022, excels in command, walking only 6% of batters last year. With a strong ground ball rate and solid K%, he's set to dominate in AAA next season.
New Additions and the Tanner Franklin Effect
The addition of Tanner Franklin has made me trust my instincts more. I had a feeling he was unique, and now I have two such prospects. So, I'm adding both to the ballot. Unfortunately, neither is Tai Peete, but I'm removing Ryan Mitchell for now due to the long list of names. Mitchell will return, but I want to see if a different name gains more traction first.
As a strategy, if any new addition wins their first vote, they'll face the prospect ahead of them in the next vote to ensure a fair ranking. This is similar to what we're doing with Cjintje. Franklin is a great example; he needed to be in the previous vote, but since he didn't win, I know I didn't add him too late.
I'm adding Nathan Church due to the success of Moises Gomez and Matt Koperniak. While they aren't similar prospects, they all had breakout seasons and seemed MLB-ready. Based on past voting, Church would have ranked between 10-15 in previous years.
Additionally, I'm adding Yhoiker Fajardo, as I believe he could surprise many, just like Franklin. He might leapfrog several prospects, but he might also receive few votes. It's a risk worth taking.
Jesus Baez: A Fascinating Prospect
Jesus Baez, an infielder, has an intriguing profile, especially considering Keith Law's negative assessment of his character. Character plays a vital role in a prospect's journey, and Baez seems to lack certain traits that scouts look for. However, his performance hasn't been affected, and it's challenging to place him on a list.
Nathan Church: A Major League Debutant
Nathan Church, an outfielder, deviates from the above examples as he made his major league debut. This fact might work against him in comparisons. Had Gomez or Koperniak debuted and performed like Church, their rankings would have been different.
Yhoiker Fajardo: A Young Talent
Yhoiker Fajardo, a right-handed pitcher, has an impressive stat line. I intended to add him when Franklin was close to being selected. I wonder if the Red Sox had him on their radar for Low A or if he forced their hand with his dominance. He can throw around 100 innings this year, which is a boost for the Cardinals.
Tanner Franklin: A Surprising Loser
Tanner Franklin, a right-handed pitcher, has an interesting profile. Despite beating two players in head-to-head voting, he kept losing polls. It's bizarre that a significant portion of voters doubt him, but those who believe are fully committed.
Ixan Henderson: A Less Exciting Prospect
Ixan Henderson, a left-handed pitcher, might seem less exciting due to the recent influx of pitching talent. While he has upside, the Cardinals are less reliant on him now. This means less attention, which is fine as the new regime focuses on finding under-the-radar pitchers.
Cooper Hjerpe: The Last High-Upside Pitcher
Cooper Hjerpe, a left-handed pitcher, is the last high-upside, big-injury-risk pitcher left. With Hence selected and Roby close behind, Hjerpe might start getting votes now. If not, the lukewarm reception will be hard to explain once Roby is on the list.
Brycen Mautz: A Solid Left-Handed Pitcher
Brycen Mautz, a left-handed pitcher, has impressive stats and scouting reports. Fangraphs recently released an updated list, and Mautz's pitches and potential remain consistent.
Deniel Ortiz: A Scouting Mystery
Deniel Ortiz, a first baseman/third baseman, has impressive stats, but Fangraphs still lacks scouting numbers for him. It's insane that he's not among the top 53 prospects, especially considering his age-appropriate, elite performance across two levels.
Yairo Padilla: A Power Projection
Yairo Padilla, a shortstop, has an encouraging power projection, but his fielding potential seems low for a 19-year-old learning the position. It's a trade-off, but his power projection is exciting.
Tekoah Roby: A Talented Pitcher
Tekoah Roby, a right-handed pitcher, is a talented prospect who unfortunately suffered a Tommy John injury. I'm curious about his ranking had he remained healthy. He had a dominant AA season and solid AAA numbers. Being healthy might have boosted his ranking, and he might have adjusted quickly to AAA, improving his stats further.
So, there you have it! A unique rewrite of the original content, preserving the key information while adding a touch of intrigue and clarity. I hope this meets your expectations and provides an enjoyable read.
