Jordan Hicks (baseball)

Jordan Hicks
Hicks with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 49
Pitcher
Born: (1996-09-06) September 6, 1996
Houston, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 29, 2018, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record 3–4
Earned run average 3.59
Strikeouts 70
Teams

Jordan McKinley Hicks (born September 6, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them on March 29, 2018. He is one of the hardest throwers in the major leagues, and has been clocked as throwing as hard as 105 miles per hour.[1]

Amateur career

Hicks attended Klein Oak High School in Klein, Texas, as a freshman, sophomore, and junior before transferring to Cypress Creek High School in Houston, Texas, for his senior year.[2] He signed with Tulane University to play college baseball.[3]

Professional career

Hicks was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft[4] out of Cypress Creek High School in Houston, Texas, and signed with them for $600,000,[5] forgoing his commitment to Tulane. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Johnson City Cardinals and was promoted to the State College Spikes during the season; in 12 starts between the two teams, he was 6–2 with a 2.97 ERA. He started 2017 with the Peoria Chiefs where he was named to the Midwest League All-Star game.[6] He was promoted to the Palm Beach Cardinals in July.[7] Hicks finished 2017 with a combined 8–3 record and a 2.74 ERA in 22 games (19 starts) between the two clubs.[8] After the season, the Cardinals assigned Hicks to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League (AFL),[9] where he was selected to the Fall Stars Game. He pitched 15.2 total innings in the AFL, finishing the season with nine pitching appearances, an 0–2 record, and a 6.32 ERA, along with hitting up to 102.6 MPH.

Hicks was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training.[10] The Cardinals announced on March 28, 2018, that he had made their Opening Day roster[11] despite not having pitched in either Double-A or Triple-A. He made his major league debut the next day against the New York Mets and produced the highest average fastball velocity of the day at 100.4 miles per hour (161.6 km/h).[12] He pitched one scoreless inning in which he earned his first strikeout against Jay Bruce. On April 21, Hicks earned his first major league win when he pitched the final ​2 1⁄3 innings—all scoreless—versus the Cincinnati Reds to help seal a 4–3 victory.[13]

On May 20, 2018, Hicks tied the MLB record for the fastest pitch of 2018 at 105.1 MPH.[14] He continued to garner attention throughout the season as one of the hardest throwing pitchers in MLB.[15] Hicks finished his 2018 rookie campaign with a 3-4 record, a 3.59 ERA, and a 1.34 WHIP, striking out 70 batters in 77.2 relief innings.[16]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-hicks-makes-history-with-105-mph-pitch/c-277668462
  2. ↑ "OPPORTUNITY SEEKER: JORDAN HICKS". The Dynasty Guru. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Tulane baseball haul on early signing day is nine players". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ "BASEBALL: Cy Creek's Hicks drafted by Cardinals".
  5. ↑ "2015 Draft: Signing and Bonus Tracker". MLB.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  6. ↑ http://www.pjstar.com/sports/20170620/chiefs-hicks-dials-up-99-mph-trosclair-steals-2-bases-to-help-west-win-mwl-all-star-game
  7. ↑ "Harrison Bader & Jordan Hicks Earn Cardinals Minor League Honors for July – Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News – Franklin County News". 5 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Jordan Hicks". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Goold, Derrick (September 1, 2017). "Elite prospects Alcantara, Hicks among eight young Cards headed to AFL". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Cardinals invite 23 non-roster players to Spring Training". Viva El Birdos. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Cardinals Release Official 2018 Opening Day Roster". KMOX-AM. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  12. ↑ Edwards, John (March 29, 2018). "Cardinals' Jordan Hicks makes historic, hard-throwing debut vs. Mets". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  13. ↑ Trezza, Joe (April 21, 2018). "Yadi's go-ahead homer pushes Cards to win". MLB.com. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  14. ↑ http://m.mlb.com/statcast/leaderboard#pitch-velo
  15. ↑ https://calltothepen.com/2018/09/08/jordan-hicks-cemented-hardest-throwing-pitcher-baseball/
  16. ↑ https://www.kmov.com/sports/st-louis-cardinals-player-grades-bullpen/article_cc2452f8-c799-11e8-b8cb-7f5bc9257887.html
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