Jordan Hicks: From Giants’ Starting Experiment to White Sox Reliever
The San Francisco Giants made a bold gamble when they signed Jordan Hicks to a four‑year, $44 million contract and tried to turn the hard‑throwing reliever into a starting pitcher. The conversion never fully worked, and after two uneven seasons Hicks was shipped to Boston as part of the Rafael Devers trade. A short, turbulent stint with the Red Sox followed, but since arriving with the Chicago White Sox, Hicks has reclaimed his dominant reliever form and played a key role in the team’s 2025 playoff run.
The Giants’ Misguided Experiment
When the Giants acquired Hicks before the 2024 season, the vision was a power starter who could consistently hit triple digits. Early results were promising—Hicks pitched well in his first month—but as the summer wore on his velocity dipped and his stamina waned, forcing the club to move him back to the bullpen. San Francisco gave him another shot in the rotation in 2025, but the outcome was worse; he was eventually replaced by Hayden Birdsong and traded to Boston.
Trade to Boston and Continued Struggles
In the Devers deal, the Giants sent Hicks, Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs, and Jose Bello to the Red Sox. Hicks’ time in Boston was brief and ineffective: he posted an 8.20 ERA in 21 appearances. Recognizing that his career was stalling, the White Sox acquired him in the offseason, hoping a change of scenery would unlock his former self.
White Sox Revival: Midseason Adjustment and Playoff Impact
After a rough start in Chicago, a midseason mechanical tweak seemed to click. Over 48 regular‑season innings, Hicks compiled a 3.94 ERA, fanned 64 batters, and saw his fastball average climb back above 99 mph. The momentum carried into the postseason: he recorded four outs without allowing a run in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card series and threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Game 2, helping the White Sox sweep the Houston Astros and advance to the ALDS.
Statistical Overview and What It Means
The numbers clearly illustrate the impact of role alignment. Below is a summary of Hicks’ 2025 season:
| Team | Appearances | ERA | Innings | Strikeouts | Fastball Avg (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox | 21 | 8.20 | — | — | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 48 | 3.94 | 48 | 64 | 99+ |
The stark contrast between his 8.20 ERA in Boston and 3.94 ERA in Chicago underscores that Hicks’ best role is as a bullpen arm. When used in short, high‑leverage bursts, he can still dominate with velocity and swing‑and‑miss stuff.
In retrospect, the Giants’ attempt to convert Hicks into a starter was a costly miscalculation. While the trade ultimately netted them a star hitter in Rafael Devers, watching Hicks thrive as a reliever for the White Sox serves as a reminder that a pitcher’s optimal role often lies in the bullpen. As the 2025 season shows, when deployed in his natural capacity, Hicks remains a high‑impact pitcher.
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