White Sox' Jordan Hicks back in bullpen after rough go in Giants' rotation
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jordan Hicks is trying to figure it out with the White Sox this spring. A starter last season in San Francisco, he’s now falling back on his St. Louis roots: the bullpen.
He had a miserable season starting for the Giants. He made nine of them, was 1-5 with a 6.95 ERA before being sent back to the bullpen. This past June 15, he was traded to Boston as part of the blockbuster deal that brought slugger Rafael Devers to San Francisco.
Then on Feb. 1, the Red Sox dumped him on the White Sox for a player to be named later and a minor leaguer. At 29, he’s a reclamation project to say the least.
Asked by the Sun-Times on Tuesday morning if he’d rather start or relieve, Hicks shrugged.
“At this point I got my shot [to start],” Hicks said. “I just want to do what’s best for the team at the moment. If they want me back in the bullpen, then that’s what I’ll do.”
In his salad days, Hicks had 28 saves in five years for the Cardinals, blazing with his 100-mph fastball. He struck out 233 batters in 219.1 innings. Sox manager Will Venable confirmed Hicks is ticketed for the bullpen and the right-hander would like to recover some of that magic.
“I had a tough year last year,” he said. “Obviously, I wish I had gone about some things differently. I’m taking care of my body now. I wish I had come to this place one year earlier. But it is what it is. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself moving forward. I’m happy doing both.”
Acuna getting acclimated
New White Sox centerfielder Luisangel Acuna said through a club interpreter Tuesday morning that he’s beginning to feel comfortable in his new environment. Acuna was the key acquisition in the Jan. 20 trade that sent Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets.
Acuna played in Monday’s Cactus League loss to the Giants and went 2-for-3 with a fifth-inning homer batting second in the lineup. Tuesday he was out on the back fields playing in a “B” game.
“I just want to have a good spring training and stay healthy,” he said. “Work on my offense and my defense.”
About playing center he added: “I’m very happy about that. I’m very comfortable out there. I played there in Venezuela and feel like it’s the position where I’ll be my best.”
Newcomb stretching it out
In contrast to Hicks, Sox left-hander Sean Newcomb is one of nine pitchers Venable is stretching out in anticipation of choosing a five-man starting staff before spring training finishes. Newcomb was a reliever for the Athletics this past season and didn’t make a start in 26 appearances. He had his second start of the spring Tuesday, this one against the Padres.
Does he prefer to start or relieve? A nine-year veteran now with his sixth team, the 33-year-old has been primarily a reliever in his career since making 49 starts his first two seasons with Atlanta.
“I just want the ball, it really doesn’t matter,” Newcomb said after tossing 54 pitches in three innings. “The aspect of starting I like is the routine and the certainty. But there are plusses and minuses to both.”