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.
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.
Giants' Jordan Hicks: Allows two runs in move to bullpen
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Giants' Jordan Hicks: Not starting Sunday, moves to 'pen
Rotowire
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.
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.
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.
