After years of waiting for an opportunity to transition from reliever to starter, San Francisco Giants flamethrower Jordan Hicks is making the most of his new opportunity this season.
Hicks, who can bring it in the triple digits with regularity, overcame several arm injuries to become a part of the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen, posting a 3.29 ERA with 12 saves in 15 opportunities over 65.2 innings in a relief role for the Cardinals and Blue Jays last season. Finally healthy, Hicks went into 2024 free agency this offseason looking for an opportunity to continue his growth, this time as a starter.
Toronto decided to go in another direction, which opened the door to Hicks signing a four-year, $44 million contract with San Francisco with the chance of finally becoming a full-time starting pitcher. San Francisco’s other free agency moves may have overshadowed the signing, but his play has made people begin to take notice.
Albeit a small sample size, the decision by his former teams to pass on developing Jordan may have given the Giants the steal of the offseason. Hicks has looked impressive in his first two starts in The Bay, scattering eight hits and striking out 11 over his first 12 innings pitched for the Giants.
His first start was smooth, but brief. Jordan threw five scoreless innings against the powerful San Diego Padres lineup, scattering three hits while striking out six.
He ended up with a no-decision in his second start on Monday against those same Padres, but Hicks’ output was even more impressive than his previous outing. Jordan went seven strong innings, striking out five Padres while only allowing two earned runs. The seven innings pitched are a career-high, and Hicks was still near triple digits on his fastball in his final inning.
Giants Manager Bob Melvin was ready to remove him from the game after completing the sixth, but Jordan wanted no parts.
“I said, ‘I got another, and I wanted to go back out there,’ ‘ Hicks said after the game on Monday. it’s pretty easy for me being open and honest to a manager, and I think that’s how you’re going to get the best outcome. The over-communication helps everybody.”
Jordan Hicks Emerges As Starter For San Francisco Giants
The emergence of Hicks as a quality starter would be incredible for a rotation that already boasts 2023 NL Cy Young Winner Blake Snell and runner-up Logan Webb. High-octane offenses are fun to watch, but history has shown us how dangerous elite starting pitching is come October.
Pitching and defense were the staples of that run, and while the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres focused on the offensive side of the ball, the Giants have continued to lean into what brought them the most success in recent team history.
A decade removed from the run that saw three World Series titles in six years, San Francisco has adopted an eerily similar blueprint that may have just found another building block.
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