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/Average

Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Hicks made two starts for South Carolina in 2022 before he had Tommy John surgery. Following a successful return from surgery, the Astros selected Hicks in the 13th round in 2023 and signed him for $150,000. After a strong first full professional season in 2024, Hicks began 2025 with Double-A Corpus Christi. In his fourth start he was hit by a comebacker and fractured his right forearm. He missed all of May through July and returned for the final seven weeks of the season. Hicks made up time in the Arizona Fall League after the season, winning AFL pitcher of the year.

Scouting Report: Hicks is an average-sized righthander with a deep pitch mix, above-average control and a deceptive low three-quarters slot. Hicks is a short strider and generates little extension. He does repeat his operation well and finds success due to his ability to command the ball. Hicks mixes two fastball shapes in a low-90s four-seam and a low-90s sinker. Hicks throws three breaking ball shapes in an upper-70s sweeper, a mid-80s cut-slider and an upper-70s two-plane curveball. The sweeper is the best of the group, followed by the slider, which works as a bridge pitch. Hicks’ changeup is his most-used secondary and is an effective chase pitch as well as a groundball generator.

The Future: Hicks’ season was cut short but he continues to show advanced command and pitchability that should work as a swingman.

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