Giants' Jordan Hicks: Will rejoin rotation in 2025
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Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey confirmed Monday that Hicks will go back into the rotation in 2025, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
It had been the plan and the Giants will not deviate from it even as Hicks struggled to hold up both from a performance and health standpoint in 2024 while making 20 of 29 appearances as a starting pitcher. Hicks finished the year with a 4.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 90:41 K:BB over 98.2 frames during his time in the Giants' rotation. He did finish with 109.2 innings, theoretically better setting him up to handle a starter's workload in 2025.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Back to IL with shoulder injury
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The Giants placed Hicks on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
It's the same injury he returned from less than a week ago and this trip back to the IL will end his season. Hicks' campaign started off promisingly as a member of the Giants' rotation with a 2.33 ERA in his first 11 starts. However, he finished with a 6.10 ERA in his last 18 appearances, getting demoted to the bullpen in the second half in addition to the two IL trips. The Giants plan to put him back into their rotation in 2025.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Activated from IL
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The Giants activated Hicks (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hicks landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 27 due to right shoulder inflammation. He had one rehab outing with Single-A San Jose on Tuesday, when he allowed two unearned runs over two innings while striking out two batters and throwing 27 pitches. Hicks was moved out of the starting rotation to the Giants' bullpen in late July, and in his eight outings since, he's posted a 2.79 ERA and 1.76 WHIP across 9.2 innings.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Begins rehab assignment
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Hicks (shoulder) allowed two unearned runs over two innings in his first rehab appearance with Single-A San Jose on Tuesday.
Hicks struck out a pair and threw 27 pitches in his first appearance since landing on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago with right shoulder inflammation. It might be the only rehab outing he requires before rejoining the Giants, perhaps as soon as later this week.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Lands on IL
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The Giants placed Hicks on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 25.
Hicks surrendered one earned run over two-thirds of an inning during his latest appearance Saturday, though he appears to have come away from the outing with an injury. He'll now be sidelined until at least mid-September, and the Giants will recall Austin Warren from Triple-A Sacramento to replenish their bullpen depth.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Nabs first save
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Hicks allowed two hits in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Monday's 5-3 win over the White Sox.
Ryan Walker threw 35 pitches Sunday versus the Athletics and was likely unavailable for Monday's contest. This was Hicks' seventh appearance since he moved to the bullpen, and he's kept runs off the board in each of his last six outings. He has previous experience as a closer, but Hicks has added just one save and one hold since losing his place in the rotation. For the season, he's pitched to a 3.85 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 94:44 K:BB over 107.2 innings across 27 appearances (20 starts). He has given up at least one hit in each of his outings as a reliever this year, so his current success could be short-lived.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Allows two runs in move to bullpen
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Hicks allowed two runs on three hits and struck out one over two innings during Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rockies.
Hicks' move to the bullpen is likely to be permanent for the remainder of 2024, though he's still stretched out enough to provide some length. He was the fourth of six pitchers the Giants deployed in Sunday's true bullpen game, though his struggles from recent weeks as a starter followed him to his new relief role. The right-hander has allowed 14 runs over his last 15 innings while posting a 15:8 K:BB in that span. He's at a 4.11 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 91:41 K:BB through 100.2 innings this season, making this the first year he's topped 100 frames in the majors and the first time he's done it at any level since 2017. However, without a rotation spot or a clear path to high-leverage relief work, Hicks' fantasy value is essentially gone in most formats.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Not starting Sunday, moves to 'pen
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Hicks, who had been scheduled to start Sunday against the Rockies, is expected to be available out of the bullpen for the series finale with Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Previous reports had suggested that Hicks was on track to move to the bullpen in the near future in anticipation of Alex Cobb's (hip/shoulder) return from the 60-day injured list. Even though Cobb isn't expected to be activated until around the middle of the upcoming week, the Giants will get a head start on shifting Hicks to the bullpen. Hicks will likely work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Erik Miller on Sunday, but the right-hander could fill a more versatile multi-inning role out of the bullpen once Cobb is back in the fold. After signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants over the winter and clinching a spot in the Opening Day rotation, Hicks got off to a strong start to the campaign but has faded of late. Over his last five starts, Hicks has gone 0-4 with an 8.18 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 22:13 K:BB across 22 innings.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Move to bullpen imminent
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The Giants are planning to move Hicks to the bullpen and could do so as soon as this weekend, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hicks made his last start on 11 days' rest but still struggled, yielding four runs on three hits and five walks with seven strikeouts over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. He needed 92 pitches to cover his 3.2 frames and admitted again after the outing that his body feels "a little worn down." Hicks could get one more start Sunday, but if that happens he's expected to throw only three innings or so. The right-hander's conversion from reliever to starter began with a bang as he posted a 2.33 ERA and 48:19 K:BB over 58 innings in his first 11 starts. Since then, though, he's managed just a 6.42 ERA and 42:22 K:BB across 40.2 frames covering nine starts. Hicks' 98.2 innings are already his career high by 21 frames. He will move to short relief soon, but the Giants plan to put Hicks back in the rotation in 2025.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Wild in Tuesday's loss
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Hicks (4-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Dodgers, allowing four runs on three hits and five walks while striking out seven over 3.2 innings.
Hicks began the game by striking out Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith but then a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a two-out double from Gavin Lux gave the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead. Hicks was able to get through the next two innings scoreless despite walking three more batters. The Dodgers would then tack on two more runs in the fourth on a double from Ohtani, which would end Hicks' day at 92 pitches. Walks have been a problem for Hicks throughout his career, but his five free passes Tuesday were a season high. He hasn't pitched past the fifth since May 31 and hasn't picked up a win since May 19. Hicks now owns a 4.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 90:41 K:BB in 98.2 innings. Robbie Ray (elbow) is set to return to the rotation Wednesday and Alex Cobb (hip) is not far behind, leaving Hicks as the potential odd man out of the rotation. For now, the right-hander is scheduled to make his next start at home versus Colorado this weekend.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Admits body is 'feeling it'
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Hicks said after Thursday's loss to the Blue Jays that his body "in general is just feeling it a little bit more than in past seasons," NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Hicks has already surged past his previous career high in innings with 95 after previously topping out at 77.2 frames as a rookie in 2018. After a brilliant start to his tenure in San Francisco, Hicks has struggled lately, posting a 6.08 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over his last eight starts. There have been no indications that Hicks will be limited in the immediate future, but the Giants may need to find ways to ease his workload down the stretch to keep the 27-year-old from wearing down completely in his return to a starting role.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Secures fifth win
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Hicks (5-4) earned the win Friday over the Twins, allowing one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings.
Hicks had given up 16 runs over 18.1 innings across his last four starts, so this was a significant improvement. He also came away with his first win since May 19, a span of nine winless starts in which he went 0-5 with a 5.57 ERA. For the year, Hicks is at a 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 86:37 K:BB across 100.1 innings across 20 starts. His inability to pitch deeper into games limits his fantasy utility, but his spot in the rotation should be safe at least until both of Robbie Ray (elbow) and Alex Cobb (hip/shoulder) are ready to make their season debuts.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Hit hard by Blue Jays
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Hicks (4-6) took the loss Thursday against Toronto, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk over 4.1 innings He struck out one.
Hicks surrendered solo home runs to Danny Jansen and Spencer Horwitz in the loss. Hicks has now allowed multiple long balls in three of his last eight starts after not doing so in his first 11 outings of 2024. The 27-year-old hasn't earned a win since May 19 and owns a 5.57 ERA in 42.0 innings during that nine-start stretch. The reliever-turned-starter has completed only six innings three times this season and hasn't gone deeper than five innings since late May.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Yields three runs in loss
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Hicks (4-5) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings, taking the loss versus Atlanta on Wednesday.
Hicks is winless in his last eight outings, going 0-4 with a 5.02 ERA in that span. He's walked multiple batters in six of those starts, though Wednesday was the fourth time in that span that he's avoided giving up a home run. Hicks is at a 3.47 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 82:35 K:BB through 90.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home against one of his former teams, the Blue Jays.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Strikes out seven in no-decision
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Hicks did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batsman against the Cubs. He struck out seven.
Hicks' outing was marred by a rough third inning in which he hit a batter, allowed two steals and gave up a homer and triple among three hits during the three-run frame. Otherwise, Hicks faced just two batters over the minimum during the other four innings, recording at least seven strikeouts for the fourth time this season. He'll carry a strong 3.36 ERA into his next start, tentatively scheduled to take place next week when the Giants travel to Atlanta for a mid-week series.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Hit hard early in loss
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Hicks (4-4) took the loss against the Cardinals on Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout over four innings.
Hicks surrendered a two-run home run to Paul Goldschmidt in the first and a three-run homer to Alec Burleson in the fourth before departing with a 5-4 deficit. The righty has completed only five frames in one of four June outings and has not logged a quality start since April 27. He owns a 3.24 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 69:31 K:BB over 80.2 innings and lines up to start against the Cubs next week.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Wild but effective Monday
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Hicks allowed four hits and four walks while striking out four batters over five scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Monday.
Hicks recently battled an illness but was able to take his regular turn in the rotation Monday. He threw only 48 of 87 pitches for strikes and tied a season high in issuing four free passes, but he was able to work around constant traffic on the basepaths to finish with five scoreless frames. It was the first time Hicks has held an opponent scoreless since his season debut against San Diego on March 30, though he's been quite reliable in yielding three or fewer earned runs in all but one of his 15 outings. The right-hander holds a 2.82 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 68:28 K:BB through 76.2 innings on the season.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Cleared to start Monday
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Hicks (illness) will start Monday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Giants manager Bob Melvin acknowledged after Hicks' most recent outing in Tuesday's loss to the Astros that the right-hander had been sick for several days leading up to the start. The illness might have played a factor in Hicks' lackluster numbers versus Houston (three runs allowed on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings), but it won't cause him to miss his next turn through the rotation. With the ailment further in the rear-view mirror while he takes the hill Monday on five days' rest, Hicks will look to recapture the strong form he displayed earlier in the season. Even though he's failed to meet the threshold for a quality start in each of his last eight appearances, Hicks heads into Monday's game with a 3.01 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Battling illness
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Manager Bob Melvin said after Tuesday's game that Hicks has been sick for the past several days, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
While Hicks' illness didn't prevent him from starting Tuesday, it did play a factor in his removal after just 4.2 innings and caused his velocity to be down a tick. The 27-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five batters, and he was hit with his third loss of the year. Assuming he's able to shake off his illness, Hicks is lined up to start again on the road Monday against the Cubs.
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Giants' Jordan Hicks: Inefficient in no-decision
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Hicks came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander did rack up some Ks, but Hicks needed 92 pitches (51 strikes) to record just 11 outs and got the hook before he could quality for a win. He's failed to complete six innings in seven straight trips to the mound, posting a 4.09 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 32:13 K:BB over 33 innings during that stretch. Hicks will look for a more efficient performance in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Astros.
