South Carolina baseball used right-handed pitcher James Hicks in a variety of ways in the 2023 season, and his positive performance as a starter and reliever only boosted his 2023 MLB Draft stock.
Hicks was one of the team’s top relief options early in the season and picked up a few mid-week starts in out-of-conference play. At the end of the season, with fellow pitchers Noah Hall and Will Sanders battling injuries, Hicks stepped into the starting rotation.
Hicks was very good in postseason play as a starter, pitching big games against Georgia in the SEC Tournament, against Central Connecticut State in the Columbia regional, and against Florida in the super regional. Relying heavily on a dynamic sinker, Hicks can profile as a starter or reliever as a pro.
On Monday, Hicks was taken in the 13th round of the MLB Draft by the Houston Astros. Last year, he was taken in the 15th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
Prior to coming to South Carolina, Hicks was a Junior College All-American. He underwent Tommy John surgery soon after beginning his Gamecock career, so the 2023 season was his only real action with the South Carolina baseball program.
It was a good year for Hicks as he finished the season with a 3.48 ERA and only gave up just 22 extra-base hits to the 275 batters he faced this season.
Now with the Astros, Hicks will be part of one of the winningest organizations in all of Major League Baseball in recent years. The Astros have also had good results developing pitchers in recent years, a good sign for Hicks.
Hicks joins starting pitchers Jack Mahoney, Will Sanders, Matt Duffy, and Noah Hall and utility man Braylen Wimmer (who played shortstop in 2023) as Gamecock players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. He is expected to sign a contract with the Astros and become a professional.