At this point I don't see Hess going back to the bullpen. He has been too good as a starter. It's a shame.
He is at his best out of the Pen. No doubt. He has gotten better, but like you said weeks ago, its hard for him to manage his pitches. He routinely at 90 pitches before or at the 7 inning mark. SEC has much better bats and he needs to be juiced for 2 innings tops. He is practically uninhabitable at that stage.