He entered Marlins spring training feeling ‘pressure.’ Now, he’s a week from making MLB debut
Like so many other players the Miami Marlins, catcher Liam Hicks entered spring training with a chance to break camp on the big-league roster despite minimal (or in his case, no) MLB experience.
Unlike so many other players in camp for the Marlins this spring, Hicks’ spring training came with a little more at stake.
The Marlins selected Hicks in the Rule 5 Draft back in December, plucking him from the Detroit Tigers’ minor-league system. When a player is chosen in the Rule 5 Draft, he has to stay on the team’s MLB roster for the entirety of the following season or else be offered back to his previous club.
“It’s tough,” Hicks said early in camp. “There is some pressure, but I think if I was in any big-league camp, I would feel pressure. I want to make the team no matter what the situation is, but they’ve been cool. The coaching staff has been really good with communication. They’ve told me, obviously there’s pressure, but don’t try and put extra pressure on yourself. I’m just trying to go out and do what I know how to do. I know if I just play how I expect myself to play, good things will happen. There’s pressure, but I also have high expectations for myself.”
Hicks has showcased himself well to the Marlins. A former ninth-round pick in the 2021 Draft, Hicks is hitting .227 with a .433 on-base percentage this spring while holding his own defensively as he learns Miami’s pitching staff.
Barring something unforeseen happening between now and Opening Day on March 27, Hicks will be on the Marlins’ roster despite never playing about the Double A level in the minors.
Hicks has a .275 average and .405 on base average, with 13 home runs and 126 RBI in 265 games through four minor-league seasons, first with the Texas Rangers and then with Detroit, and has thrown out 17% of would-be basestealers (31 of 149). He has more walks (166) than strikeouts (147) during his minor-league career.
“Love the at-bat quality,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He really moves the ball forward when he swings. He controls the strike zone. Our hitting guys are continuing to tap into a little bit more speed in his body and his moves to get a little bit more contact. There’s a good hitter in there.”
As for his defense, McCullough said Hicks has “really made strides.” He arrived at the team’s training complex in January to work with new catching coach Joe Singley and built a bond with starting catcher Nick Fortes.
“It was cool, kind of getting a little bit of a preview about what to expect with the staff,” Hicks said of Fortes. “Anytime I have questions about a guy, he’s super cool and will give me a rundown on anything I need to know.”
Two months later, he has ingratiated himself with a Marlins team that took a chance on him. And in about a week, Hicks will almost assuredly be able to call himself a Major League Baseball player.
“Just really excited,” Hicks said. “Their message was that it was a good opportunity, and they want me to come in here, compete and try and win a win a spot on the team. That’s kind of what I’ve been been preparing for. But I’m just really excited the the organization is going in a really good direction. It’s kind of cool being in an organization now that’s super innovative, trying new things. I’m a very open-minded person when it comes to baseball. I’m open to trying anything that’s gonna get me better. So it’s a very cool opportunity.”
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