Jordan Hicks Bio
Jordan McKinley Hicks, born September 6, 1996, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). A former hard-throwing reliever, Hicks has built a reputation as one of the most powerful arms in the sport, once reaching 105 miles per hour on the radar gun. He has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants.
Hicks was originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft out of Cypress Creek High School in Houston, Texas. He debuted in the majors in 2018 and has since transitioned from a high-velocity closer into a starting pitcher.
Early Life and Background
Jordan McKinley Hicks was born on September 6, 1996, in Klein, Texas, a suburb in the Houston metropolitan area. He grew up in a region known for producing talented baseball players and developed his love for the game at an early age. As a child, he rooted for the Houston Astros, following the local MLB club during his formative years.
Hicks attended Klein Oak High School in Klein, Texas, before transferring to Cypress Creek High School in Houston for his senior year. He committed to play college baseball at Tulane University but never arrived on campus after the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 2015 MLB draft. Hicks signed with the Cardinals for $600,000, choosing professional baseball over a college career.
Path to Baseball
Hicks’s path to professional baseball began in the Houston area, where his arm strength quickly drew attention from scouts. His commitment to Tulane provided a backup plan, but his performance as an amateur was strong enough to convince the Cardinals to use a third-round selection on him in 2015.
He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Johnson City Cardinals of the rookie-level Appalachian League and was promoted during the same season to the State College Spikes of the Low-A New York-Penn League. In 12 combined starts, he posted a 6-2 record with a 2.97 ERA, setting the stage for his rapid climb through the minor leagues.
Jordan Hicks Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
Hicks opened the 2017 season with the Peoria Chiefs of the Single-A Midwest League and earned a spot in the Midwest League All-Star Game. In July, the Cardinals promoted him to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the High-A Florida State League, where he went 0-1 with one save, a 1.00 ERA, and 32 strikeouts across 27 innings.
He finished 2017 with a combined 8-3 record and a 2.74 ERA in 22 games (19 starts) between Peoria and Palm Beach. After the regular season, the Cardinals assigned him to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, where he was selected to the Fall Stars Game and regularly reached triple-digit velocity, including pitches measured at 102.6 miles per hour.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2018-2023)
Hicks was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training but made St. Louis’s Opening Day roster despite never having pitched above High-A. He made his major league debut against the New York Mets and recorded the highest average fastball velocity of the day at 100.4 miles per hour. He pitched a scoreless inning and earned his first strikeout against Jay Bruce. On April 21, 2018, Hicks earned his first major league win when he pitched the final two and one-third scoreless innings against the Cincinnati Reds to seal a 4-3 victory.
On May 20, 2018, Hicks threw the fastest pitch in MLB history at 105.1 miles per hour, a record he shares with Aroldis Chapman. That season, his four-seam fastball and sinker ranked second and third in average speed among MLB pitchers. He finished his 2018 rookie campaign with a 3-4 record, six saves, a 3.59 ERA, and 70 strikeouts across 77 2/3 relief innings.
Hicks opened 2019 as St. Louis’s closer, recording 14 saves with a 3.14 ERA before a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow forced him to undergo Tommy John surgery on June 26, 2019. In 2020, he opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic while managing his Type 1 diabetes. He returned in 2021 and was part of a 22-pitch at-bat, the longest in Major League history, during a spring training game against the Mets. In 2022, the Cardinals named him their fifth starter, and in January 2023, he agreed to a one-year, $1.8375 million contract to avoid arbitration.
Toronto Blue Jays (2023)
On July 30, 2023, the Cardinals traded Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitchers Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse. He became the first Blue Jays player to wear uniform number 12 since Edwin Encarnacion in 2010. Down the stretch for Toronto, Hicks made 25 appearances, going 2-3 with a 2.63 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and four saves over 24 innings. He became a free agent after the season.
San Francisco Giants Era (2024-2025)
On January 18, 2024, Hicks signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Although he had been primarily a reliever, the Giants converted him into a starting pitcher. In 29 appearances (20 starts), he posted a 4-7 record with a 4.10 ERA, 96 strikeouts, and one save across 109 2/3 innings.
In 2025, Hicks struggled in 13 appearances (nine starts), going 1-5 with a 6.47 ERA and 43 strikeouts across 48 1/3 innings. According to Baseball Reference, his -1.8 wins above replacement was the lowest among MLB pitchers in 2025.
Boston Red Sox (2025-Present)
On June 15, 2025, the Giants traded Hicks to the Boston Red Sox, along with Kyle Harrison, James Tibbs III, and Jose Bello, in exchange for Rafael Devers. The move brought Hicks to his fourth MLB organization and placed him in the American League East pennant race.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hicks is one of the hardest throwers in MLB history, having been clocked at 105.1 miles per hour. While transitioning to a starting role with the Giants in 2024, his velocity dropped as he worked to preserve his arm over multiple innings, rarely exceeding 96 miles per hour. His velocity rose again in 2025 Spring Training and into the regular season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hicks’s most famous moment came on May 20, 2018, when he tied the MLB record for the fastest pitch ever recorded at 105.1 miles per hour. He was also part of the longest at-bat in Major League history during spring training in 2021, a 22-pitch duel with the Mets’ Luis Guillorme.
Jordan Hicks Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Jordan Hicks has earned multiple wins as both a reliever and a starter. His first major league victory came on April 21, 2018, against the Cincinnati Reds. As a starter with the Giants in 2024, he added four wins to bring his career total into double digits.
MLB Highlights
From 2018 to 2025, Hicks compiled regular-season wins with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Giants, and Red Sox. His first MLB win came as a reliever for St. Louis in 2018, and his most recent full-season win total came in 2024, when he posted a 4-7 record as a starter for San Francisco. In 2025, he was 1-5 with the Giants before being traded to Boston.
Jordan Hicks Family
Personal Life
Hicks was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during his junior year of high school and has been open about managing the condition throughout his professional career. He grew up a Houston Astros fan and has continued to speak publicly about the importance of diabetes awareness for young athletes.
2025 Season Performance
Hicks opened 2025 with the San Francisco Giants after signing a four-year contract the previous January. Pitching primarily as a starter, he struggled to a 1-5 record with a 6.47 ERA in 13 appearances before being traded to the Boston Red Sox on June 15, 2025. His low wins-above-replacement total reflected a difficult stretch in the National League.
Traded alongside Harrison, Tibbs, and Bello for star slugger Rafael Devers, Hicks joined a Red Sox team competing in the American League East. The midseason change offered Hicks a new opportunity to reset his season and return to form with a contender.
Looking ahead, the rest of 2025 will be a critical stretch for Hicks as he adjusts to a new organization and works to rebuild his confidence. His contract runs through 2028, giving the Red Sox time to evaluate his long-term role as either a reliever or a starter.