RADIO
Jordan Hicks 2019 Outlook: Closer With Competition
6 years agoSt. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks will likely enter the 2019 season as the team's expected closer. However, with the signing of free agent reliever Andrew Miller, Hicks is not going to have a long leash if he starts to struggle. 2018 was an excellent rookie year for the 22-year-old, who posted a 3-4 record with six saves in 73 games. He ended up with a 3.59 ERA, striking out 8.11 batters per nine innings while walking 5.21 per nine. Hicks throws hard, routinely flashing 103 mph and higher on radar guns, but he doesn't feature the kind of swing-and-miss stuff of a guy like Andrew Miller. Still, the Cardinals seem very high on their young fireballer, and with a good team around him, Hicks should see plenty of save chances throughout the season. He has potential to be a bit over-drafted due to the buzz around his velocity, but anyone who does ultimately end up with Hicks should try to add Miller toward the end of their draft if their roster allows. Hicks should end up with slightly better numbers in 2019 as his stuff develops, and he'll certainly end up with more saves as long as he retains the role.
