John Hicks (baseball)
John Hicks | |
---|---|
Detroit Tigers – No. 55 | |
Catcher / First baseman | |
Born: Richmond, Virginia | August 31, 1989|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 29, 2015, for the Seattle Mariners | |
MLB statistics (through 2018 season) | |
Batting average | .251 |
Home runs | 15 |
Runs batted in | 55 |
Teams | |
|
John Austin Hicks (born August 31, 1989) is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2015.
Career
Seattle Mariners
Hicks was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 31st round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft out of Goochland High School in Goochland, Virginia. He did not sign and played college baseball at the University of Virginia for the Cavaliers from 2009 to 2011. He was then drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Mariners and made his professional debut that season with the Clinton LumberKings.[1] He played 2012 with the High Desert Mavericks and 2013 with the Double-A Jackson Generals.[2] Hicks started 2014 with Jackson and was promoted to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.[3]
The Mariners placed Hicks on their 40–man roster on November 20, 2014.[4] He made his MLB debut with the Mariners on August 29, 2015. He was designated for assignment on November 23, 2015.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins claimed Hicks off of waivers in December, 2015.[5] He did not play a major league game with the Twins.
Detroit Tigers
2016
Hicks was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers on April 23, 2016. He split time in the 2016 season between the Double-A Erie SeaWolves and the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He was called up on September 1, 2016, when the rosters expanded and made his Tigers debut on September 10.
2017
Hicks began the 2017 season with the Mud Hens, where he batted .424 with 12 RBI in his first 10 games. On April 22, 2017, he was recalled by the Tigers and inserted into the starting lineup.[6] In the next game, on April 23 against the Minnesota Twins, Hicks hit his first major league home run and had 5 RBI in a 3-for-5 game.[7] After being optioned back to Toledo in June, Hicks was called back up on July 31, 2017, to replace Alex Avila, who had been traded.[8] Hicks had two home runs in a September 5 game against the Kansas City Royals, the first multi-homer game of his career.[9] In 173 at-bats during the 2017 season, Hicks hit .266 with 6 home runs.
2018
Hicks has alternated between catcher and first base for the 2018 Tigers, playing the latter much more after the season-ending injury to Miguel Cabrera on June 12.[10] On August 15, 2018, after being placed on the disabled list a week earlier for a groin strain, the Tigers announced that Hicks would need surgery to repair a core muscle defect which ended his season.[11]
Personal life
Hicks played youth baseball with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.[12]
References
- ^ "U.Va. catcher Hicks signs pro contract". Richmond.com. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- ^ "Hicks: The Mariners' other young, talented catcher". The Daily Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- ^ "Tacoma Weekly". Tacoma Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- ^ "Seattle claims Olmos off waivers from Miami". ESPN.com. November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ http://www.startribune.com/twins-claim-mariners-catcher-john-hicks-off-waivers/360084931/
- ^ Sipple, George (April 22, 2017). "Detroit Tigers place Miguel Cabrera on 10-day DL; John Hicks recalled". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "Hicks, Fulmer and Tigers rout slumping Twins 13-4". CBSsports.com. April 23, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Tigers recall Joe Jimenez, John Hicks in wake of Monday morning trade". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
- ^ Beck, Jason; Beery, Kyle (September 5, 2017). "Tigers club 6 HRs to hurt Royals' WC hopes". MLB.com. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ^ Fenwick, Tyler (June 12, 2018). "Miggy to have season-ending biceps surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Tigers' John Hicks: To undergo surgery Thursday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
- ^ "How far has Seahawks' Russell Wilson come? Ask M's prospect John Hicks". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- John Hicks on Instagram
- 1989 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from Virginia
- Clinton LumberKings players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Erie SeaWolves players
- High Desert Mavericks players
- Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Seattle Mariners players
- Sportspeople from Richmond, Virginia
- Surprise Saguaros players
- Tacoma Rainiers players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Virginia Cavaliers baseball players