Prior to the 2024 season, Jordan Hicks’ free agency came down to two teams: the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox.
The Giants wound up inking Hicks to a four-year, $44 million contract, but the Red Sox still made a strong impression on the flamethrowing right-hander.
“They came after me pretty hard and they were in on me,” Hicks said. “It was between them and the Giants, so I’m excited to be here and feel wanted.”
The Red Sox eventually got their man anyway, acquiring Hicks along with left-hander Kyle Harrison and two prospects in the Rafael Devers blockbuster. Hicks was on the 15-day injured list at the time of the deal with right toe inflammation but is expected to be activated during this week’s series against the Cincinnati Reds, providing a huge boost to Boston’s bullpen.
“I was a little bit surprised, I didn’t even know you could get traded on the IL,” Hicks said of his reaction to the trade. “But besides that I was really excited to hear that it was a team that was pursuing me in free agency and that I get to be part of a young squad and I’m just really excited to play for this historic organization.”
One of baseball’s hardest throwers, Hicks boasts a fastball that regularly tops 100 mph and prior to his free agency ranked among the game’s most overpowering relievers. Hicks had a particularly dominant 2023 season in which he struck out 81 batters over 65.2 innings split between the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, and upon signing with the Giants he attempted to move into the starting rotation.
That experiment didn’t work out. Last season Hicks posted a 4.01 ERA in 20 starts before eventually being moved back to the bullpen, and this year he had a 6.55 ERA through nine starts, after which point the Giants pulled the plug.
Upon his return from the IL the expectation is Hicks will return to his previous bullpen role, serving as Boston’s primary eighth-inning set-up man to bridge the gap to closer Aroldis Chapman.
“I’m excited for the opportunity, I kind of got to try out the starting thing, would have liked a longer leash but at the same time I’m excited to help the team any way I can,” Hicks said. “I know what I can bring to the table I just needed a little adjustment period coming from the starter, so it was a good IL stint in that aspect and I feel like I’m coming back to bullpen form.”
Hicks said since joining the Red Sox the coaches have been working with him to refine his pitch mix, and one of the biggest adjustments he’s made is abandoning his sweeper, which he previously threw 32% of the time, in favor of a harder slider he says pairs better with his higher velocity fastball.
He also said he has no preference to what role in the bullpen he serves, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora says he’ll be a huge help, especially with right-hander Justin Slaten expected to miss at least another month.
“We’re missing Slaten so now we’ve got somebody who’s done that with good stuff,” Cora said. “You’ve got Chapman, Hicks, Weissert, Whitlock, Wilson, and the other guys fall into their roles.”
Houck struggles again
Tanner Houck (right flexor pronator strain) struggled again in his latest rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester, allowing four runs on seven hits, one walk and two home runs with three strikeouts.
Houck came out of the bullpen in the second inning following an opener, which Cora said was done to try and give Houck something of a change of scenery. The right-hander posted two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, allowing four runs on a pair of home runs. He came back out for the fifth and recorded two more outs before leaving following a single. He threw 65 pitches, 42 for strikes.
