June 25, 3:54pm: Hicks will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other reporters.
1:10pm: The Cardinals have formally placed Hicks on the injured list and also optioned lefty Genesis Cabrera to Triple-A Memphis. Right-handers Daniel Ponce de Leon and Dominic Leone have been recalled from Memphis in a pair of corresponding moves.
June 24: Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks has suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the team announced. Hicks may need to undergo Tommy John surgery as a result, though the club noted it’s still determining the next course of action.
Should the 22-year-old Hicks have to go under the knife, he’d miss the rest of this season and likely the majority of 2020 on top of it. Hicks would continue to accrue service time in the process, meaning he’d stay on track to reach arbitration after 2020 and free agency at the end of the 2023 campaign. More importantly, though, Hicks’ loss would be a devastating near-term shot to St. Louis’ bullpen, which has seen him turn into one of the game’s most imposing relievers since he debuted in 2018.
Hicks didn’t log impressive strikeout and rates as a rookie last season, when he put up 8.11 K/9 and 5.21 BB/9 in 77 2/3 innings, but still recorded a 3.59 ERA/3.74 FIP with a 60.7 percent groundball rate. He also saved six of seven chances and amassed 24 holds, thanks in part to devastating velocity. Hicks was the only pitcher in the majors to average upward of 100 mph on his four-seam fastball and sinker last season. He has clocked in just below 101 mph on his four-seamer and at 101.1 mph on his sinker this year, and enjoyed even better results before suffering his injury. Hicks made good on 14 of 15 save chances for the Cardinals this season and notched a 3.14 ERA/3.18 FIP with 9.73 K/9, 3.45 BB/9 and a fantastic 67.2 percent grounder rate in 28 2/3 innings.
Losing Hicks is all the more troublesome for the Cardinals given their place in the National League playoff race. The 40-37 Redbirds haven’t been great this season, but they’re still just two games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs and tied with the Rockies for the NL’s second wild-card spot.
Fortunately for the team, it does have at least a few other reliable late-game relievers. John Gant, Giovanny Gallegos and John Brebbia have joined Hicks in turning in good to excellent results, while Andrew Miller has been better of late after a rough start. The Cardinals also have former starter Carlos Martinez, who has been effective in 15 relief innings since making his season debut in May. Still, in the wake of the awful news on Hicks, St. Louis’ relief corps may well end up as an area of focus for the club’s front office as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
That just sucks, and I’m not even a Cards fan. Here’s to a full recovery.
I’ve always enjoyed the flamethrowers. Hope he comes back throwing just as hard!
damn it
Damn that’s the last thing the Cardinals needed right now. Wish him well in his recovery.
Oh SNAP.
How 1990 of you.
Nope. 2000.
This is 1990:
“1990, Chubb Rock jumps up on the scene
with a lean and a pocket full of green
The green doesn’t symbolize I made it on the top
But Robocop last year was a shock…”
Lol, I actually just looked it up. First written documentation 1984. Oh snap
Sorry, Caucasian ears
Or I will attack
And you don’t want that
In Living Color
Bruh
Awesome. Lol
Bound to happen when ur firing it up full blast every pitch
Except that this is only correlation and hasn’t been proven
Yes it has. 99% of orthopedic surgeons have stated throwing a baseball at high speed is going to hurt your arm. I thought I already schooled you on this the other day. If you think it doesn’t, I’m sure you never pitched in your life.
Dude, do you think we don’t know when you are just making stuff up?
Dude, not making anything up. I can’t believe people out there are this stupid to think throwing a baseball at high speed won’t cause arm issues. Keep that head buried in The Sand.
Most authorities agree that sliders not fastballs, are most detrimental to UCL joints. Some guys can throw 100 MPH easier than others that throw 89. Simply gauging stress by MPH lacks intellectual honesty.
it is why they tell little league coaches not to teach them… to use fastballs until the arm develops
Applause
Nolan Ryan pitched in the majors throwing mainly heaters until he was 44. The “Big Train” Walter Johnson did the same. No, it’s not heaters that tear up elbows, it’s sliders, cutters and to a lesser extent sharp breaking curves.
Brilliant. So I guess ALL THE 1665 PLAYERS that have had TJ surgery since 1974 were all junk pitchers who didn’t throw hard. It’s so much fun when people talk in absolutes.
That’s brutal.
As a Cub fan I think this sucks. I’d never wish this on anyone, even a cardinal. I guess this is almost expected when you throw that hard. It’s too bad but I’m still hoping for a great race, I’d love to beat those guys when they’re at full strength though. Get well soon Mr. Hicks.
Aroldis Chapman and Justin Verlander throw hard and neither have required TJs. It is more about the mechanics used to generate the leverage. More leverage leads to more speed but if the leverage adds stress it can cause injury. There is no direct relationship to speed
Wow! You think they never have had arm, elbow or shoulder pain? Not every person is built the same. Yes some guys have avoided it, but the overall numbers show it’s an epidemic in baseball. Not everyone dies from cancer, so does that mean it’s not a problem?
You are stupid. That is clear. Thank you for the laugh
Great response, Potsie.
Wow I’m so shocked a guy throwing 105 mph gets hurt. No seriously though I wish him the best. Big blow for the cards cause Miller hasn’t quite been Miller this year
Terrible.
Gant the closer now???
I’m shocked. Throwing 105 mph sinkers would damage his elbow. Never would have guessed
All kidding aside, this sucks. Kid is electric
Well Trevor Rosenthal is available Cardinals Fans
So is Ken Giles guys…
Big Sexy is still out there. Offer him a plate full of cheeseburgers and he will sign!
Sorry to hear that about Hicks, hes a flamethrower. Us brewer fans know the pain when Knebel went down.
This sucks. One of my favorite pitchers to watch
Will Smith + Mark Melancon trade looming for the cards? Both have been solid.
U mean twins?
Was bound to happen with someone throwing that hard…thought he would last longer then that though…Martinez steps up…cardinals have depth but this one hurts
Curious. Did your school bus only have 6 rows of seats?
You’re assuming he’s mentally handicapped because he said a true statement?
Clepto likes to come on here and be an internet tough guy while he sits behind his computer…it’s ok…he also for some reason is obsessed with me…I only imagine he cruises through MLB trade rumors and looks for me so he can respond with some internet tough guy responses
Wouldn’t you love to know who he is and walk up to him, out somewhere, and say who you are and watch his reaction
Please answer the original question, little one.
Just report him
Report one of my weirdly obsessive fans…no way lol
Did you look at the article about Hicks and Reyes before this…he mentions me
Wood guy…I told him I was going up to Chicago not to long ago…I assume that is were he is from… but no response
So, little one, heres the deal.
You and your co-bus rider Themed were the ones who were SO boastful in spring training, specifically a “top farm system” and “plenty of pitching depth”. I disagreed, and provided fact, to which you, of course ignored. (a common theme, eh?) Now, its simply “i told you so” more than being obsessed with a couple of morons.
But if it makes you feel better believing I am obsessed, feel free to try to find me in Chicago. Chances are, I’m probably not there. But you dont deal in inconvenient fact, do you??
Oh…yea, I told you so, little one. Let this burn sink in.
Lol I have no idea who themed is or why you connect me with him…are you saying I was optimistic about the cardinals at the beginning of the year lol ok I was…plus you have provided no facts my weirdly obsessive fan…you only came in here and was an internet tough guy from the beginning…plus the cardinals do have a good farm and they do have depth…most than other teams…is it the best? Maybe not…but Ponce did just step in and threw a good game…plus Hicks got hurt, ok…now Martinez steps in as closer…so exactly what facts have you provided in which I am wrong? You can obsess about me more go ahead…I guess you are big one lol get a life dude
one can never be optimistic when mo is in the front office
What kind of loser reports another commenter on a forum?
The ones who love censorship. Quite a lot of that going around today.
There’s a lot of censorship in here. Addison Russel anyone?
Just reported you, Nikki
Cool, you reported me. What reason did you give? That you hate when people use facts that shut down your uninformed opinions?
I’ll bet top dollar that yours did.
Who didn’t predict this?
That’s a major wrench in the woks. I’m not gonna blame the kid’s ability to throw 100+ mph as the reason, like so many are. TJ surgery is pretty common among pitchers no matter the mph they throw. The fact is, throwing overhand is just not a natural motion.
Don’t rush or be rushed, Jordan. You are young and have many years ahead, hopefully.
No, the evidence is pretty clear unless you’re Ryan or Chapman, throw real hard and you’ll soon break down. Pitchers don’t get injured nearly as often as throwers.
Or Randy Johnson.
Why do guys like Hicks always feel like they have to max out whenever they’re on a mound? I mean, what’s wrong with hitting 98-100 mph consistently with better control and never getting hurt?? If that was the case, he might still be a starter.
Yes, plus he also probably wouldn’t have needed TJ.
Pretty sure he injured his elbow on a slider.
Easy to say when you aren’t trying to maximize your value as a mlb ball player…he went with his god given talent…can’t blame him for that
Poor kid, hope he’ll be back soon. Hard throwers like him rarely don’t tear their UCL.
Huh?
Calling Ken Giles
Must be mike Mathenys fault!
I’ll bet we can find a way to blame him
Given the track record of guys with TJ surgery, he’ll come back throwing 94 or 110.
Cards need Smith from the Giants. Hopefully this puts the g men in position for a strong return.
I’d rather have Yates.
Time for the Cards to finalize the deal for Smith and Bungarner now. Throw O’Neill into the deal and a high minor league pitcher along with the other pieces needed.
Cmart is all around a better pitcher than Hicks. I don’t see the need for any trades whatsoever. He is a huge talent but if we are being honest he is fairly easy to replace at this stage of his career. Hope he recovers well!
Time for Cards to just recoil and plan for the future. The Dodgers are going to blow past all NL competitors on their way to the World Series once again. Might as well hold on to their prospects and hope for better luck next year.
Except they have Carlos Martinez waiting to step into the role?
Because he’s been healthy for 2 years now.
Should be easy enough to fleece Al Avila and get Shane Greene away from the Tigers.
…and lose once again.
As Cubs fan, I hate seeing someone injured, especially somebody so talented. Every time it happens, as a baseball fan, you just mourn the loss to the game. Wish him well and having Reyes, Kopech flashbacks. Bad break for the Birds.
Wouldnt be shocked to see them go after Yates/Smith. But at this point, who isnt going after those two.
Will probably be Carlos in the 9th but I’d like to see Gallegos get a shot. He’s turning out to be quite nasty.
Nolan Ryan didn’t have any trouble in his long and great career of throwing triple digit fastballs. What’s the deal with this generation?
I think a lot of it has to do with the size of pitchers these days. The reliever on the Reds (Lorenzan) looks like a goddamn WWE superstar. Take a look at his arms lol. You see a lot more pitchers bulky/muscular. Im no doctor, but i heard it was part to the over training in the weight room and throwing so hard.
They rubbed dirt on it, pitched through it and chalked it up to tendinitis..
Constant max rpm equals blown up motors.
Also, Nolan Ryan wasn’t going max effort. I think it has less to do with speed and more with max effort. Nolan Ryan just had an incredible arm that could have probably thrown 105 with max effort exerted. Hicks could have probably sat at 100 instead of 103 but, again, when millions are on the line, you do what you have to do.
Damn that sucks, but it also isn’t surprising. Guys that average upper 90’s on the fastball usually scare me out of optimistically believing they’ll have long careers without needing some sort of elbow or shoulder surgery.
that’s what happens when you overuse relievers. Same story with Dominguez.
Thing is, he wasn’t overused
Not overused? He came direct from A ball at 21 and pitched in 73 games. That’s when I knew he would have surgery sometime before this season ended.
maybe if starting pitchers didn’t waste so many pitches and have thrown 100 through 5 innings, relievers wouldn’t be overworked
Shocking
ShOcKiNg
I’m a Cubs fan. But more importantly a baseball fan and really don’t want to see any serious injuries to the players. As a fan you want to see all teams at their very best. This guy is fun to watch and brings a lot to the Cardinals. Get well real soon and hopefully a full recovery.
I’m worried Hicks might be the Joel Zumaya of Generation Z.
Thrower not a pitcher. We gotta stop with the whole “real men throw 100” crud, its ending careers. Pitching is an art form, not a weightlifting rep. Verlander and Ryan are the literal two exceptions to the rule, and there’s 100s if not 1000s of broken arms out there because they were told to strive to be like those 2 guys.
Eh, you haven’t really watched much baseball this year it seems. Hicks is not the thrower he was last year. He backs off the fastball and spots it when needed and mixes in the slider quite well.
Drew Storen
AJ Ramos and Addison Reed is available
“Still determining the next course of action”? He has no UCL in his elbow. There’s only one course of action. Put a fork in him. He’s done this year. He’s got to have TJ surgery. What other “courses of action” are they considering? Acupuncture? Voodoo? Benny Hinn?
Well I believe RA Dickey was born with no UCL so it’s possible to pitch without one. Might have to resort to the knuckleball though…
See Luke Weaver, Masahiro Tanaka.
Weaver and Tanaka didn’t suffer complete tears of their UCL. Seth Lugo is another one who has a partial tear of his UCL and is able to play through it after rehab. There’s no rehabbing a completely torn UCL. It doesn’t grow back on its own. It has to be replaced via TJ surgery.
Will. Smith.
Sign Kimbrel!
Ryan Helsley call up
22 and a torn UCL? Awful. Get well soon!
Oh well that’s baseball. Suck it up and move on. Still have plenty in the bullpen if he would ever figure out who to use when. Wish Matheny was still the ramrod.
100 miles Giles
Since when does Hicks throw a 4-seam fastball? I thought all his fastballs were sinkers.
They have so much tail that they look like sinkers but I think he actually throws with a 4-seam grip.
At what point do orgs stop pushing these kids to throw 100 MPH? It’s gotten obscene.
Nolan Ryan’s arm was fine throwing that hard, well at least until he was 46.
I enjoyed watching this guy throw. Bummed to hear the news.
Tough break.
On the topic of closers, I am predicting that the Dodgers will trade Will Smith to the Giants in return for Will Smith.
Well, not really, but it would be so cool.
As a Cubs fan, that sucks, I wish him well as it is more fun to beat the Cardinals when they are fully healthy.
RIP, see you in 2021.
Bud Norris and Mike Matheny think he should toughen like a vet!
On the bright side, Ponce de Leon will get more time in the majors, time he has earned.
Lame!
I think all hard ball throwers should require Tommy John surgery before entering into the draft. The way these pitchers go down so quickly, is just baffling
Trevor Rosenthal is available
Even though I’m a lifelong Phillies fan, I’ve always rooted for the Cardinals to do well ever since I was a kid. Why? More than a half century ago I went to a Phillies/Cardinals game at old Connie Mack Stadium in North Philly. After the game, I waited outside where the Cardinals team bus was parked looking to get autographs on my 15-cent scorecard. Sadly, my main target, Stan Musial, was already on the bus with some other players. The Cardinal players who had not yet boarded, were most accommodating. have no idea where that scorecard is today, but I do recall Carl Warwick, Joe Cunningham and Lindy McDaniel signing for me. There were two others who signed, but I don’t recall them, although one was an infielder whose last name began with the letter “G”. Anyway, ever since then I always liked the Cardinals. Even 1964 (OUCH!!!!) didn’t change that.
That said, Cards will be fine with Carlos Martniez as their closer. What they really need is to get Harrison Bader going on offense; score some runs fior Flaherty and Hudson; hope Wainwright stays healthy and use Jose Martinez as a trade chip to get whatever else they need to win the NL Central. Cubs and Brewers both have their pimples. Cards can catch them.
How do you average over 100mph on two different pitches and only have that K/9 rate? Dude isn’t that good of a pitcher.
Can this Injury or Condition be Prevented?
Certain factors may increase a person’s chances of injuring the UCL. For example, shoulder and elbow range of motion imbalances may play a role in creating too much stress at the elbow. Balance and coordination deficits also can lead to improper movement during sporting or other activities. Your physical therapist will design an individualized treatment program to address and correct these deficits.
Current evidence suggests the biggest factors for athletes developing this injury are pitch velocity, and the overall volume of throwing and other overhead activities performed in a specific sport. Throwing with high velocity (>83 mph), pitching too many pitches, pitching on short rest, pitching while fatigued, and introducing new pitches in excess are all factors related to exposing the UCL to force that it may not be able to withstand. Other factors such as age, type of sport, and position played also may affect overall arm fitness and health. It is important to keep up with regular arm care and exercises in order to reduce the likelihood of injury.
moveforwardpt.com/symptomsconditionsdetail.aspx?ci…
webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tommy-john-surgery-ucl-…
Anyone can get a UCL injury from repetitive stress to the elbow or from trauma. But throwers have the highest risk. That’s because throwing motions that twist and bend the elbow put extreme stress on the ligament.