The Red Sox have placed right-hander on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder issue, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Left-hander Chris Murphy will be called up from Triple-A Worcester to fill Hicks’ spot in the bullpen.
Jordan Hicks joined Boston in June as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Rafael Devers to the Giants, arriving with Kyle Harrison, Jose Bello, and James Tibbs III (later flipped for Dustin May). He’s in the second year of a four-year, \$44 million contract he originally signed with San Francisco. The Giants tried to convert him into a starter over the past two seasons, but durability concerns cut that experiment short. The Red Sox shifted him back into relief, though the results so far have been disastrous.
Through 18 2/3 innings with Boston, Hicks has allowed 17 runs (8.20 ERA) on 25 hits and 12 walks, while also hitting four batters and throwing six wild pitches. His strikeout rate has fallen to a career-low 15.5%. Despite his struggles, manager Alex Cora has continued to use him in high-leverage situations, hoping he could return to the form that once made him a highly sought-after flamethrower.
That may still happen, as Hicks is under contract through 2027 at \$12 million annually. For now, though, he’ll be sidelined for at least two weeks. This marks his eighth trip to the IL since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019, and his third shoulder-related stint since August 2024.
At his best, Hicks has looked like a legitimate late-inning weapon. He has averaged over 100 mph on his sinker in three seasons and posted a massive 63% ground-ball rate from 2018 to 2021. While he’s never missed bats at the rate expected for someone with his velocity, he has three seasons with an ERA in the 3.00s and looked rejuvenated in 2023, when he logged a 3.29 ERA with career-best strikeout and walk rates.
That breakout year helped him land his current deal at age 27, and he’ll still have two more seasons in Boston to reestablish himself before hitting free agency again at 31.