After being sent down early in the spring, Cardinals No. 7 prospectJordan Hicks was given another shot.The 21-year-old right-hander struck out four batters over 2 2/3 innings in his first big league Spring Training game Wednesday en route to St. Louis' 13-6 win over Miami. Although he was called "the
After being sent down early in the spring, Cardinals No. 7 prospectJordan Hicks was given another shot.
The 21-year-old right-hander struck out four batters over 2 2/3 innings in his first big league Spring Training game Wednesday en route to St. Louis' 13-6 win over Miami. Although he was called "the biggest arm in camp" by Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, Hicks was sent to Minor League camp earlier this spring for arriving late to team meetings.
The 2015 conditional first-round pick entered at the start of the third inning and struck out Major Leaguers Scott Van Slyke and Cameron Maybin to open the fourth. After relieving Matt Bowman in the third, Hicks surrendered two runs on three hits and worked himself into a jam in the fifth before exiting the game.
The Houston, Texas high-school product has one of the most explosive fastballs in the Cardinals system, reportedly hitting 102 mph in Minor League camp. But he has shown strong command, particularly with the changeup and the curveball, which earned him another spring outing.
In 22 appearances over two levels between Class A Peoria and Class A Advanced Palm Beach, Hicks compiled an 8-3 record with a 2.74 ERA, striking out 95 while walking 45 over 105 innings.
Fifth-ranked Cardinals prospect Harrison Bader went 3-for-3 with a fourth-inning double that plated No. 12 Yairo Muñoz. Marlins No. 9 prospect Brian Anderson also a run.
In other spring action:
Red Sox 8, Rays 3 (Box)
Tampa Bay's No. 26 prospect Ryan Yarbrough took the loss, but the left-hander helped his case to make the Rays bullpen by striking out five of the 13 Red Sox batters he faced. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks in three innings and sports a 2.63 ERA over six Grapefruit League appearances. Yonny Chirinos (No. 21) served up two runs -- one earned -- on two hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. No. 23 Red Sox prospect Bobby Poyner strengthened his bullpen resume with three strikeouts over two perfect frames while No. 9 Mike Shawaryn gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Snyder in his first Grapefruit League appearance of the spring. Fifth-ranked prospect Sam Travis went 1-for-4 and saw time at first base and left field.
Phillies 7, Blue Jays 7 (Box)
Philadelphia's No. 17 prospect Roman Quinn went 2-for-4 out of the No. 9 spot. Quinn played the entire contest and added a stolen base. No. 27 Luis García pitched a scoreless third and No. 28 Vìctor Arano struck out two in two frames.
Yankees 9, Orioles 4 (Box)
Baltimore's top prospect Austin Hays had an RBI single and stole his first base of the spring.
Padres 4, White Sox 3 (Box)
In his seventh big league camp at-bat, Hudson Potts slugged a solo shot. San Diego's No. 17 prospect has three hits and two RBIs in seven games. White Sox No. 20 prospect Aaron Bummer pitched a perfect sixth.
Brewers 4 (ss), Athletics 3 (Box)
Oakland's third-ranked prospect Franklin Barreto went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base. No. 11 Sheldon Neuse went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Astros 8, Nationals 3 (Box)
Washington's No. 4 prospect Erick Fedde continued his solid spring campaign with two scoreless frames. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed one hit and a pair of walks while striking out one to lower his Grapefruit League ERA to 2.45. Andrew Stevenson, the Nationals No. 12 prospect, hit a solo shot off Houston closer Ken Giles in the ninth.
