Former Blue Jays Pitcher Hicks Secures $44 M Deal with Giants

Hicks, aged 27, has predominantly served as a reliever throughout his career, making only eight starts in 212 appearances over five seasons. Last season, he emerged as a highly sought-after relief pitcher during the trade deadline, moving from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for two prospects. Impressively, Hicks recorded 81 strikeouts in 65⅔ innings between both teams, allowing a mere four home runs while securing 12 saves. Following the trade, he showcased a stellar 2.63 ERA in 25 relief appearances for the Blue Jays.

Known for his exceptional velocity, Hicks holds the distinction of delivering two of the fastest pitches (105-plus mph) in the pitch-tracking era since 2008. Furthermore, he is coming off a standout season, where he shifted exclusively to pitching out of the bullpen.

There are some questions among fans about why the Giants would want to make him a starter considering his success from the bullpen.

Statistically, Hicks ranked second among all qualified pitchers with a 100.3 mph average on his four-seam fastball, trailing only Jhoan Duran (101.8 mph). Additionally, his sinker averaged 101.1 mph, placing him second behind Aroldis Chapman, according to Statcast.

Is There a Concern With Hicks’ Injury History?

Hicks’ journey has been marred by injury setbacks, including Tommy John surgery in June 2019 and a subsequent hiatus from the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He had preexisting health concerns related to his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in high school. If there is any reason this deal might not pan out well, if it’s injuries and illness continue to play a factor.

His return in 2021 was included another setback with right elbow discomfort. That led to an early May stint on the injured list and no further participation in the season.