James Hicks Stats & Scouting Report

IP	14.0
ERA	0.00
WHIP	0.570
BB/9	1.3
SO/9	12.2

Full name James David Hicks Jr.
Born 05/09/2001 in Conway, AR
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School South Carolina
Drafted in the 13th round (404th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2023 (signed for $150,000).

View Draft Report

School: South Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (15)
Age At Draft: 22.2
Hicks pitched two years at Crowder (Mo.) JC before heading to South Carolina for the 2022 season, where he threw just seven innings, but was drafted by the Orioles in the 15th round. Instead of signing, Hicks went back to Columbia for his age-22 season and second with the program, and posted a 3.51 ERA over 66.2 innings with a 20.4% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. Listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Hicks is a sinker/slider righty who attacks with a 90-93 mph fastball that will touch 94. The pitch has around 19 inches of horizontal break and runs in on righthanded hitters from a lower, three-quarter slot. He pairs the pitch with a low-80s slider that has reasonable two-plane break and is his best swing-and-miss offering. Hicks has used a slower curveball in the mid 70s and occasionally flashed a mid-80s changeup that has solid arm-side fade—but he uses the fastball/slider combination nearly 90% of the time.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High.

Track Record: Hicks began his collegiate career with Crowder (Mo.) JC, spending two seasons there before transferring to South Carolina. After being held to just two starts in 2022, the Orioles drafted Hicks in the 15th round. He didn’t sign and returned to campus in 2023 and performed well primarily as a reliever, then signed with the Astros for $150,000 in the 13th round of the 2023 draft. Hicks impressed in his full-season debut in 2024, making 25 appearances and pitching to a 3.82 ERA with 115 strikeouts and 29 walks over 106 innings.

Scouting Report: Hicks is an average-sized righthander with a deep pitch mix, advanced command and a deceptive low three-quarters arm slot. Hicks mixes a two-seam fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and a cutter. His primary fastball is a classic two-seamer, sitting 92-93 mph with heavy armside run that he can manipulate the sink on. The fastball has an unusual plane for a sinker with a flat vertical approach angle that adds deception. His primary secondary is his low-80s curveball which is used against both righties and lefties. He mixes in his slider against both sides as well, and it’s a below-average pitch that sits between 83-85 mph. Hicks’ changeup is his best bat-missing pitch and has good separation from the fastball. Hicks’ cutter is rarely thrown. Overall Hicks showed above-average control of his arsenal.

The Future: Hicks has back-end starter upside and is trending upward heading into 2025.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 55.

Draft Prospects

School: South Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Orioles ’22 (15)
Age At Draft: 22.2
Hicks pitched two years at Crowder (Mo.) JC before heading to South Carolina for the 2022 season, where he threw just seven innings, but was drafted by the Orioles in the 15th round. Instead of signing, Hicks went back to Columbia for his age-22 season and second with the program, and posted a 3.51 ERA over 66.2 innings with a 20.4% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate. Listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Hicks is a sinker/slider righty who attacks with a 90-93 mph fastball that will touch 94. The pitch has around 19 inches of horizontal break and runs in on righthanded hitters from a lower, three-quarter slot. He pairs the pitch with a low-80s slider that has reasonable two-plane break and is his best swing-and-miss offering. Hicks has used a slower curveball in the mid 70s and occasionally flashed a mid-80s changeup that has solid arm-side fade—but he uses the fastball/slider combination nearly 90% of the time.

Career Transactions

RHP James Hicks assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
Corpus Christi Hooks activated RHP James Hicks from the 60-day injured list.
Corpus Christi Hooks transferred RHP James Hicks from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
RHP James Hicks assigned to Houston Astros.
Corpus Christi Hooks activated RHP James Hicks.
Corpus Christi Hooks transferred RHP James Hicks to the Development List.
RHP James Hicks assigned to Corpus Christi Hooks from Asheville Tourists.
RHP James Hicks assigned to Asheville Tourists from Fayetteville Woodpeckers.
RHP James Hicks assigned to Fayetteville Woodpeckers from FCL Astros.
FCL Astros activated RHP James Hicks.
RHP James Hicks assigned to FCL Astros.
Houston Astros signed RHP James Hicks.
RHP James Hicks Jr. assigned to South Carolina Gamecocks.