Jordan Hicks Earns Quality Start, Win In Season Debut Monday
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jordan Hicks looked sharp in his first start of the season Monday, helping his team to a 7-2 win over the Astros. The 28-year-old tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts. Hicks had a strong first half in 2024 with a 3.79 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP while returning to a rotation role, but his poor second half forced him to end the season in the bullpen. Hicks' heavy sinker has carried fantasy appeal throughout his career, and his first start against a solid Astros lineup could spark interest once again. He is widely available and should have a good chance to string together another solid outing in his next scheduled start at home against the Mariners, making him worth a look in at least deeper leagues.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jordan Hicks looked sharp on Wednesday night against the Royals in a Spring Training game in Surprise, Arizona. Hicks went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out three. The run came on a solo shot off the bat of Bobby Witt Jr. in the first inning. Hicks settled down though, and looked much better than he had through his first three starts this spring in which he allowed seven runs in 6 2/3 innings. He seems locked into a starting spot in the rotation coming into the season after going 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA, 4.37 FIP and 7.9 K/9 in 29 games last year. Hicks bulked up this offseason and will look to turn his extra velocity into more starts like Wednesday's. He's a depth piece for NL-Only leagues and a matchup-based streaming option coming into season.
San Francisco Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks said he gained around 14 pounds in the offseason to prepare for a full season as a starter in 2025. Hicks said he feels that he can "take the training wheels off." The 28-year-old hurler moved to a starting role last year in his first season with the Giants and got off to a fantastic start before eventually tiring out late in the year and being moved to the bullpen. He went 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA (4.37 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, a career-high 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (20 starts). He should be better equipped to handle an elevated workload in 2025 in his second year as a starter, but there remains plenty of risk for fantasy managers. Hicks did have two stints on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues should have better options.
San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey said on Monday at the winter meetings that right-hander Jordan Hicks will remain in the starting rotation in 2025. In his first full season as a starter in the big leagues in his first year with the Giants in 2024, the hard-throwing Hicks did very well but broke down in the second half and was then shifted to the bullpen to monitor his workload. He finished 4-7 with a 4.10 ERA (4.37 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP, one save, a career-high 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 innings over 29 outings (20 starts). The 28-year-old should be better positioned to handle the elevated workload next year, but he'll fantasy managers shouldn't forget about his shoulder injuries from this past season. In his first 12 starts in 2024, Hicks had a 2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 52:19 K:BB before falling apart in his final eight starts.
The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Jordan Hicks (shoulder) back on the 15-day injured list on Friday with right-shoulder inflammation and recalled pitcher Austin Warren from the minors in a corresponding move. Given the fact that there is just over a week left in the regular season, Hicks will not pitch again in 2024. The 28-year-old's elevated workload in his first year in the Bay Area as a starter has certainly caught up with him, and it's the same injury that he returned from less than a week ago. Because of Hicks' elevated workload, the Giants moved him to a relief role in the second half, and he has struggled out of the bullpen. Hicks was solid for fantasy managers early on as a starter, though, and he'll finish his first year with San Fran with a 4-7 record, 4.10 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, 96 strikeouts and 47 walks in a career-high 109 2/3 frames over 29 outings (20 starts).
San Francisco Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks (shoulder) returned from the injured list on Saturday. Hicks was used immediately in a relief role on Saturday night, throwing an inning and giving up two hits but no runs in his first appearance since Aug. 24. Hicks has four wins and one save in 29 games this year covering 109 innings. The veteran has a 3.87 ERA and 1.42 WHIP this season for San Francisco, and his role for next year is undetermined at this time. Hicks began the year as a starter and was starting games through mid-July before the Gigantes moved him to their bullpen. Barring an injury heading into the offseason, Hicks will likely return to a starting role in 2025.
Giants Place Jordan Hicks On The 15-Day Injured List
The San Francisco Giants placed right-hander Jordan Hicks on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation ahead of Tuesday's game against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers. Hicks has been battling a lingering shoulder issue and was unavailable for Friday's contest against the Seattle Mariners after feeling a "zinger" down his right arm on two of his final three warmup pitches, but he was cleared to pitch after playing catch without issue the following day before eventually going on the IL. Hicks is 4-7 with a 3.90 ERA this year, making 20 starts before being moved to the bullpen in late July. The 27-year-old righty has made eight appearances in relief and logged 108 1/3 innings overall for the Giants this season. Ryan Walker and Camilo Doval figure to share save chances in San Francisco until Hicks is back in the mix, which likely won't be until mid-September.
Jordan Hicks A Potential Option For Giants' Open Closer Role
San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks was mentioned by manager Bob Melvin as a potential option for the Giants' closing role after the club optioned Camilo Doval on Friday, but not quite yet. Melvin was hesitant to announce who'd get the closer role, and left Hicks' chances simply as a possibility. The 27-year-old has worked out of the bullpen for most of his career and was moved into San Francisco's bullpen in late July to protect his workload to finish the season. With Blake Snell and Robbie Ray coming back into San Francisco's rotation recently, it's provided the Giants some flexibility to keep Hicks in his familiar role. At three games back of a wild-card spot in the National League, San Francisco will stay aggressive as they look to snag a playoff spot. Hicks could be in line for valuable saves, and fantasy managers looking for closer help should be prepared for him to slide into that role yet again. In addition to Hicks, Ryan Walker, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Rogers could all be part of a closing committee in San Fran.
San Francisco Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks will not make the start on Sunday versus the visiting Colorado Rockies and will instead be moved to the bullpen to protect his career-high workload the rest of the way in 2024. The Giants will roll with left-hander Erik Miller as the opener in this one, with Hicks possibly come on in a relief role later in the ballgame. San Francisco was already preparing to move the 27-year-old Hicks to a bullpen role after he potentially made his final start of the year on Sunday. He gave up four runs while walking five and striking out seven in 3 2/3 innings in his last start against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and admitted that he has been feeling the effects of an elevated workload this year. His recent results have reflected that, as he's gone 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA and 1.95 WHIP in his last 22 innings pitched.
Jordan Hicks Could Be Moved To Bullpen This Weekend
The original plan for the San Francisco Giants was to give right-hander Jordan Hicks one more start this Sunday against the visiting Colorado Rockies and then meet to discuss his role for August and September. But after Hicks allowed four runs to the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and admitted his body still feels "a little work down," the Giants will accelerate those talks and will possibly move Hicks to the bullpen this weekend. The issue is complicated this weekend by the fact that Giants have a doubleheader on Saturday, but either way, his fantasy value is plummeting in the second half. He has thrown 98 2/3 innings in 2024 in his transition to a starting role and is already 21 frames past his previous career-high. If Hicks makes one more start, it might last around three innings, so fantasy managers shouldn't start him.
Jordan Hicks
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Giants
