The Cardinals will include right-hander Jordan Hicks on their 25-man roster, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, with the move becoming official on Wednesday or Thursday morning. Righty John Brebbia will be optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding transactions once Hicks’ contract has been selected.
A third-round pick for St. Louis in the 2015 draft, Hicks has looked good in Spring Training, posting a 2.35 ERA and recording eight strikeouts against just one walk over 7 2/3 innings. Despite this strong performance, this is quite an aggressive promotion for the Cards, as Hicks will be entirely skipping both Double-A and Triple-A en route to the majors. He posted good but not dominant numbers (2.82 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 1.85 K/BB rate) over 165 2/3 innings in the minors and was a well-regarded but not elite prospect, ranked as the sixth-best minor leaguer in the Cardinals’ farm system by both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.
[Updated Cardinals depth chart at Roster Resource]
Despite this lack of a standout pedigree, Hicks obviously impressed Cardinals officials during the spring and offers even more potential as a bullpen weapon. Just three of Hicks’ 34 career appearances in the minors have come as a reliever, though the 2018 Baseball America Prospect Handbook predicted that relief pitching could be Hicks’ ultimate future due to some issues with his control and command. Hicks offers an arsenal of two excellent pitches that would seem to lend itself to bullpen work, including a power curveball “that draws plus-plus grades from evaluators,” according to BA. He is best known, however, for a fastball that routinely averages in the mid-90’s, and he has touched the 102-mph threshold this spring.
This type of velocity could be even more dangerous in short bursts as a reliever, and Hicks’ inclusion on the roster adds another fascinating wrinkle to the Cardinals’ closing situation. Luke Gregerson was signed this winter to ostensibly work as the St. Louis closer, though it seems as if the team will take something of a situational approach to the ninth inning, especially since Gregerson will start the season on the DL. Tyler Lyons and Dominic Leone look like the top choices for saves right now, though there have been rumors that the Cards are still interested in free agent Greg Holland. Should Hicks impress early in the season, however, his power arm could quickly move him up the depth chart and potentially get him into the closer mix as well.
That’s awesome!!!!
Bring the kid up and see what he can do!
Hell yes!
I was floored when i heard this
Kids got a filthy hook like a young waino or ankiel
Cardinals have an impressive young pitching arsenal.
People around here don’t believe that, but yes they really do and they lost alcantara in the ozuna deal.. then there is a guy like woodford whose stuff isn’t nasty but he can locate ball of his pitches beautifully. Lots of OF talent too. It’ll be interesting to see if a superstar becomes available what mo and girsh can do with the excess of talent with not a lot of place for guys who seem to be about ready.
Good move Cardinals by adding Hicks to the opening day roster. He has been very good this spring training.
But for under 8 IP total during this spring training!!
If that’s not a solid indication of Cards desperation for more bullpen help – nothing is.
I like Hicks and hope he makes it with the Cards, I just don’t think he’s ready yet. They need a proven closer like Holland.
Hicks has the heater
Another very live arm developed by the Cardinals
This is all coo with hick making OD, but brebia was one of are impact relievers last year
Whats the rush? Starts his clock, and they have no idea how his arm will respond to a reliever’s workload. I can see him back in the minors in a matter of weeks, or heading to the dl.
I don’t think they are worried about starting the clock on a relief pitcher….they still got six years
The phrase “start the clock” is used way too freely
Public knowledge that the Memphis shuttle will be in full swing this year with arms and bench guys.. and Hicks may develop into a starter but I really think he’s the closer for the next few years not a starter
I agree.. him or Tui – I hope that’s the case because that will mean our bullpen will be dominant
I love seeing the prospects like Hicks play. Good move, and even if he struggles we have plenty of viable options for the bullpen.
Future is definitely bright for cards pitching, Weaver, Flaherty, Reyes, Hicks, Dakota Hudson, helsley, Gomber…..
Do forget Mikolas lol
I know this was a joke, but Mikolas has actually looked really good as of late and could end up being a great pickup. But I was only naming the young stars under 25
Gomber gets kind of lost in the shuffle as does oviedo who is further away than the top arms but nice to see that once these kids are in the bigs there is still more on the way
Especially Reyes. – in another 4-6 weeks.
I wish they could make Holland an offer both he and the team could live with. Something that comes close to Holland’s demands but with a performance clause to protect the team. He did falter last year after the break..
We need a proven stopper like him to bring along the rookies. They, in turn could be used to protect Holland’s arm from overuse. Win/win for both Holland and the Cards. It would give us a shot at the post season we don’t really have at this point.
The Cards have a very good shot at the post-season this year. Pitching
and defense has improved greatly over the last 2 years
and that’s what wins championships !
Cards always make great decisions when it comes to there homegrown pitching.
They have a great stable of young talent but they have been burning up arms like crazy the past 4 years. That’s got to be a contributing reason why Nicasio bailed to a weak team like the Mariners rather than staying with a team with more post season potential like the Cards. I sure hope Maddox turns around the burnout rate.
Hicks is exciting with his live arm but this points to the desperation of the Cards. He’s got no where near enough experience to last long with the Cards at this point. I expect Brebbia will be back to replace him within a month.
I hope he kicks major booty in the bigs. Heck he is leap-frogging over Double AA and Triple AAA, never even thrown a pitch in those leagues, only A ball. Stay tuned, should be exciting to see what he can do.
Congrats for Jordan! Hope he does well for the Cards
Cards aren’t scared to take a chance on a young kid. Gotta love that. I hope he does well. Just gotta keep that young mind in check.
So….the proof is in the pudding! Berbbia, Cecil, Gregerson, Norris, just to name 4 pitchers within the past 2 years Mozeliak waisted money on dumpster diving, have all been surpassed by pitchers already in the system who make far less money. Surely the Cardinal ownership is not that stupid. However it sure does appear that way!!! As President of baseball operations, John Mozeliak has waisted more money on low hanging fruit, who prove to be inferior signings, than any other top brass in the major leagues. It’s about time to clear out Mozeliak for new blood with better baseball sense!!!!!