South Carolina pitcher James Hicks picked in MLB Draft
James Hicks always wanted to come back for his senior season at South Carolina, wanting to show what he could do at the college level while trying to help the Gamecocks get back on track.
He wanted to so bad that he turned down money from the Baltimore Orioles to return to school for one more season, and now he’s heard his name again.
The Houston Astros selected Hicks in today’s MLB Draft, picking him No. 404 overall and in the 13th round.
It’s a big day for Hicks–a JUCO signee in 2022–who was one of the Gamecocks’ go-to bullpen arms this season and the frontline starter in the postseason.
Hicks was mostly a reliever this year, making 19 relief appearances and finishing the 2023 season with a 3.48 ERA overall over 67.1 innings. He struck out 56 to just 14 walks with a .234 batting average against.
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His biggest bullpen outings came in wins over Clemson to clinch a series and in relief after a weather delay against LSU.
But what he’ll be known for this year was his three-week stretch to end the year as a starter. Hicks pitched a gem in the Gamecocks’ first SEC Tournament win since 2018, tossing 6.2 shutout innings.
He was great again in the NCAA Tournament, allowing three earned runs in 10 innings. Over those three starts, Hicks finished with a 1.62 ERA over 16.2 innings with a 0.78 WHIP.
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South Carolina is coming off a quality season in 2023 that included the program’s first 40-win season and top 16 seed since 2016 and first Super Regional appearance since 2018.
The Gamecocks finished 42-21 (16-13 SEC) and ran through the Columbia regional before ultimately getting swept in a Super Regional by the eventual national runners-up in Florida.
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It’s been a hectic offseason for South Carolina from staff turnover to roster additions over the last few weeks. Liberty’s Matt Williams replaced Justin Parker as the Gamecocks’ pitching coach with Parker leaving to take the same position at Mississippi State.
Monte Lee will be back for year two as the Gamecocks’ recruiting coordinator and associate head coach under Mark Kingston. South Carolina is also adding Joey Holcomb as the team’s third paid assistant, coming over after a pair of years at Campbell.
South Carolina’s been busy in the transfer portal, too, bringing in Austin Brinling (North Florida), Kennedy Jones (UNC-G), Blake Jackson (Charlotte) and Dalton Reeves (Presbyterian). Versatile infielder Parker Noland is coming over from Vanderbilt while Tyler Causey comes from North Carolina.
The Gamecocks have two reigning Pitchers of the Year committed in Ty Good (Charleston) and Matt Duffy (Canisius) with Garrett Gainey (Liberty) and Tyler Dean (Virginia Tech) also on board.
