photo: Manager Patrick Anderson (Kinsley Reliford/The Cardinal Nation)
The old saying goes, “There’s no crying in baseball,” and it certainly looks like to be the case for the Peoria Chiefs this season.
Starting with Opening Day pitcher Tink Hence and his 95+ mph fastball, the team looks to be in more than capable hands. Asked to identify what he is most looking forward this season, Hence replied, “Just playing as a team […] whenever someone is down, keeping them up.” By focusing on his teammates, The Cardinal Nation’s number three prospect is hopeful that his good fortunes will continue on the mound.
Welcome to Peoria, Tink. 😈 pic.twitter.com/1PAWSoJi9L
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 7, 2023
Similar to Hence, left-hander Cooper Hjerpe is confident that the St. Louis Cardinals High-A team has the potential to play at their best in the season ahead.
“My plan is going to build from the last season and keep growing and getting stronger,” the organization’s top draft pick in 2022 said. Suggesting the Chiefs can go as far as their pitching will take them, Hjerpe said, “If the pitchers are on their best, then it’s going to be a good season.”
Hjerpe is scheduled to make his professional debut Friday evening at Dozer Park against Cedar Rapids.
Chiefs manager Patrick Anderson believes that producing a winning team is much more than just strategy; it’s the players. “For us, we have a good well-rounded group,” he said, “We have some good young players that are really talented, more mature, just [overall more] experience wise.”
Using that focused energy will be essential when trying to minimize mistakes on the field as they learn together. Making adjustments as the season goes along will be crucial as the Chiefs adapt to each other’s play as well as the style of their Midwest League competitors.
What is next?
Check out Kinsley Reliford’s Peoria Chiefs Notebooks with all the news from Dozer Park, exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation each Wednesday all season long.
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