Mason Hickman

Hickman isn’t even the second-most famous pitcher on Vanderbilt’s 2020 staff, with underclassmen righthanders Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter drawing so much attention. While not as flashy as his 2021 counterparts, Hickman is one of the most reliable starters in the nation and was Vanderbilt's Friday night starter in 2020. A 6-foot-6, 230-pound righthander, Hickman's fastball typically sits in the 88-90 mph range and only touches 91, but his heater is an 'invisi-ball' that frequently stymies hitters. Hickman also throws both a curveball and a slider and has shown the makings of a changeup, but all of his secondaries are fringey at best. Despite his lack of big stuff, Hickman logged a career 3.13 ERA at Vanderbilt over 189.2 innings with 221 strikeouts (10.5 per nine) and 61 walks (2.9 per nine). Scouts say Hickman might have plus command, which is extemeley rare to put on amateur pitchers but helps explain his success against top-tier competition in the Southeastern Conference. Hickman grows on you the more you watch him carve up lineups, and scouts praise his competitive nature and demeanor on the mound. Most believe his advanced feel for pitching will allow him to make the most out of his admittedly limited toolset.