| W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 5.21 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 48.1 | 52 | 1.53 |
| Career Minors | 6 | 4 | 3.71 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 111.2 | 121 | 1.35 |
| G | W-L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12 | 2-2 | 5.21 | 48.1 | 52 | 1.53 |
| Career Minors | 28 | 6-4 | 3.71 | 111.2 | 121 | 1.35 |
| Season | Tm | LG | L | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | FCL Astros | FCL | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.59 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5.2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.24 |
| 2024 | 3 Teams | Minors | 6 | 4 | 3.82 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 106.0 | 115 | 53 | 45 | 13 | 29 | 115 | 1.36 | |
| 2024 | Fayetteville Woodpeckers | CAR | A | 1 | 0 | 0.50 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18.0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 0.89 |
| 2024 | Asheville Tourists | SAL | A+ | 3 | 2 | 3.63 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 39.2 | 45 | 23 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 1.36 |
| 2024 | Corpus Christi Hooks | TEX | AA | 2 | 2 | 5.21 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 48.1 | 61 | 29 | 28 | 7 | 13 | 52 | 1.53 |
| FCL Astros | FCL | ROK | 0 | 0 | 1.59 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5.2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.24 | |
| Corpus Christi Hooks | TEX | AA | 2 | 2 | 5.21 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 48.1 | 61 | 29 | 28 | 7 | 13 | 52 | 1.53 | |
| Asheville Tourists | SAL | A+ | 3 | 2 | 3.63 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 39.2 | 45 | 23 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 1.36 | |
| Fayetteville Woodpeckers | CAR | A | 1 | 0 | 0.50 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 18.0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 25 | 0.89 | |
| Career Minors | 4 Teams | 6 | 4 | 3.71 | 28 | 14 | 1 | 111.2 | 120 | 58 | 46 | 13 | 31 | 121 | 1.35 |
Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55 | Overall: 40
Hicks starred for two years at Crowder (Mo.) JC before transferring to South Carolina in 2022, only to have his elbow blow out in his second start for the Gamecocks. The Orioles still drafted him in the 15th round that July, but he turned them down and signed with the Astros as a 13th-rounder a year later. He earned two promotions in the first two months of his first full pro season, reaching Double-A in late June.
In college, Hicks' two best offerings were a 91-94 mph sinker that touched 96 and a tumbling mid-80s changeup. He also had a so-so upper-70s curveball and a low-80s slider. After he turned pro, Houston helped him add a four-seam fastball that reaches the mid-90s more regularly than his two-seamer does, and also a more sweeping version of his slider.
None of his six pitchers is a true plus offering, but they work well together because of Hicks' ability to mix them and pound the strike zone. He can pitch to both corners while keeping hitters off balance, though he doesn't have much margin for error. He could help the Astros as a No. 5 starter or middle reliever sooner than expected.
| Team | Date | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
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09/24/2024 | Corpus Christi Hooks activated RHP James Hicks. |
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09/09/2024 | Corpus Christi Hooks transferred RHP James Hicks to the Development List. |
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06/24/2024 | RHP James Hicks assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists. |
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04/29/2024 | RHP James Hicks assigned to Asheville Tourists from Fayetteville Woodpeckers. |
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04/04/2024 | RHP James Hicks assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros. |
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07/18/2023 | FCL Astros activated RHP James Hicks. |
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07/18/2023 | FCL Astros activated RHP James Hicks. |
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07/18/2023 | RHP James Hicks assigned to FCL Astros. |
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07/15/2023 | Houston Astros signed RHP James Hicks. |
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03/26/2023 | RHP James Hicks Jr. assigned to South Carolina Gamecocks. |
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03/26/2023 | South Carolina Gamecocks activated RHP James Hicks. |
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03/31/2022 | RHP James Hicks and assigned to South Carolina Gamecocks. |
