Melanated Mound Marauder On Go: Jordan Hicks Continues Dominance In New Starting Role 

That brother is something special.

Going into the season, mound master Jordan Hicks was added to the Giants’ pitching staff hopeful to sure up the squad’s rotation.

After making his mark in the league as a flamethrowing reliever, reaching 105 MPH and posting 81 strikeouts with the Cardinals and Blue Jays, it was Hicks’ payday. In the offseason, Hicks picked up a hefty paycheck: Four years, $44 million from the San Franciso Giants and updated his status to their emerging starting pitcher.

After two showings where Hicks fanned a total of 11 batters and allowed just one run, he is still going.

On Wednesday, Hicks served the Nationals up in a 7-1 victory over the bunch. In six innings of play, the Giants’ lead pitcher allowed just four hits and punched out two batters.

As part of the heat Hicks packs, he has employed a sinker that he typically throws around 99 MPH.

“I’ve always been confident I could (use the sinker) because it induces so much early contact,” Hicks told The Mercury News. “It has that late action where it kind of looks like it’s in one spot and at the last second it misses that barrel.” 

The biggest moment of the day though, came when he fanned Trey Lipscomb with a sweeper that had Lipscomb sweeping clean air.

Hicks’ ability to put break on his pitches came in clutch in yet another victory.

With that contest, Hicks brought his record up to 2-0 on the season, and a dominating 1.00 ERA. Even then, Hicks has to prove himself as a starting pitcher.

Hicks had only started eight games leading up to the 2024 season, giving manager Bob Melvin and crew plenty of ammo to beeline to the mound after Hicks grabbed his knee following a pitch to outfielder Jesse Winker.

Still, the melanated mound marauder showcased his thick skin, as he waved off Melvin and company, asserting that he was OK.

“I told them I was good,” Hicks said to the San Franciso Chronicle. “I was really trying to get them off the mound so I could lock back in.” 

The Giants staff obliged, and though Hicks went on to walk Winker, he cemented his big-time performance in the stat sheet with just one more hit allowed in the following two innings.

At that point, the job was done for Hicks, and he was relieved by Ryan Walker.

Just three games into the season, Hicks has adjusted well into the new starting role, and will look to cement his status as San Francisco’s ace as soon as possible.