We all love hard-throwing relievers!
On Sunday afternoon, it was reported that the Blue Jays traded prospects Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein to St. Louis for reliever Jordan Hicks.
Let’s take a look at what Hicks offers first:
The Cardinals have been closer by committee this season, with Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos both having eight saves, and Ryan Helsley having seven. Although Hicks isn’t the best reliever in the Cardinals bullpen (Helsley has that title), Hicks is a fantastic addition to a Blue Jays bullpen that needed one once Jordan Romano hit the 15-day injured list.
This season, the 26-year-old Hicks has a 3.67 ERA and a 3.02 FIP in 41.2 innings pitched, along with a career-high 31.2 K%. There is some concern about his control and command, as he’s sitting at a 12.7 BB%, which is actually below his career BB% of 13.2%.
After a rough April, Hicks has a 2.67 ERA and a 2.39 FIP in 30.1 innings pitched, along with a 30 K% and a 10.8 BB%. Hitters are batting .212 against him. For his career, he has a 3.98 ERA and a a 3.67 FIP in 219.1 innings pitched. Furthermore, he has a 24.7 K% and a 13.2 BB%.
104 AND 105 MPH??
Good luck hitting Jordan Hicks’ fastball
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/YqPA1Wkty4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 20, 2018
Hicks can chuck a ball. His average velocity sits at 101 mph, which is actually the second lowest in his career (he sat 98 mph in 2022). He throws that pitch 70% of the time, for good reason, but also has a slider that averages 87 mph that he throws 27% of the time. His other pitch is a changeup that he throws just 2% of the time.
The sad news is that Hicks will become a free agent after the end of the season. This means that he’s a rental for the playoff push, but could obviously end up re-signing with the Blue Jays.
In return, the Cardinals received Adam Kloffenstein, who has had a career resurgence in 2023. In Double-A, he has a 3.24 ERA and a 3.45 FIP in 89 innings pitched. His K% sits at 27.6%, the highest since he pitched two innings in rookie ball in 2018. Moreover, his BB% sits at 8.9%, down from 11.3% in 2022 in Double-A.
Here’s Adam Kloffenstein (@KingKloff)’s strikeout thread from this evening!
Slider for the swing and miss here.#BlueJays #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/4p0CzIQ6l1
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) May 17, 2023
I’ve been really high on Sem Robberse since 2021, and for a reason. I truly believe that he has a back-end of the rotation floor, with a mid-rotation ceiling. The 21-year-old Dutchman has a 4.06 ERA and a 4.59 FIP in 88.2 innings pitched in Double-A this season. His 23.1 K% ranks as his best K% since Single-A in 2021, and he had an 8.9 BB%. It’s important to remember just how young he is for the Double-A level.
Here’s Sem Robberse (@SemRobberse)’s strikeout thread from this evening.
I believe this was the changeup.#BlueJays #NextLevel pic.twitter.com/BOMwgrfWrH
— Brennan Delaney (@Brennan_L_D) June 13, 2023
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!