Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026
Result: Nationals 6, Cardinals 1
Weather: Clear, 68 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Tink Hence is hoping that 2026 will be a much better season than his injury-filled 2025 and it at least got off to a positive start on Tuesday night.
Hence, one of the Cardinals top pitching prospects since he was drafted in 2020, worked a scoreless inning in relief, allowing only an infield single while recording two groundouts and a strikeout in a loss to the Nationals in West Palm Beach.
The relief appearance was designed for Hence to get in his first inning of the spring, and a plan for how he will be used the rest of the spring has not been determined.
It comes after Hence was limited to just 21 innings in 2025 because of injuries and led to an off-season program designed for Hence to gain strength.
Since he was drafted, Hence has yet to pitch more than 95 innings in a season but the righthander is still only 23 years old.
Here is how Tuesday night’s game broke down:
High: Packy Naughton, coming back after missing almost two years because of elbow injuries, turned in his second scoreless inning in as many appearances this spring.
Low: A 1-1 game in the eighth inning blew up when Cardinals relievers walked six batters and threw a wild pitch, leading to five runs.
At the plate: The Cardinals were held to just three hits, two by minor-league infielder Ramon Mendoza … Their only run came on a sacrifice bunt from Victor Scott II, something he has been working hard on this spring … The only other hit for the Cardinals was a single by Jeremy Rivas.
On the mound: The Cardinals used nine pitchers in the game, needing three – all minor-leaguers – to get through the eighth inning … Andre Pallante started and allowed one run in his two innings of work despite not giving up a hit … Justin Bruihl, Skyler Hales and Austin Love joined Naughton and Hence in working scoreless innings in relief.
Worth noting: Lars Nootbaar continues to work on strength and mobility drills as he recovers from his off-season surgery on both heels. He has been able to hit and play catch as he waits to be cleared for more baseball activities. The Cardinals don’t know when that will happen … Ivan Herrera, who has yet to play in a game this spring, likely will DH in either Thursday or Friday’s game … Riley O’Brien, who had to skip joining team Korea for the first round of the World Baseball Classic because of a sore leg, threw his first bullpen since the injury … Yohel Pozo started at first base against the Nationals as the Cardinals look at options for a right-handed hitting backup to Alec Burleson.
Up next: The Cardinals will be on the road again on Wednesday, playing the Mets in Port St. Lucie. Richard Fitts, acquired from the Red Sox, is set to make his Cardinals’ debut. Also scheduled to pitch is Jurrangelo Cijntje, acquired from the Mariners for Brendan Donovan.
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