Jordan Hicks Blazes 103-MPH Fastball in Dominant Outing: Watch the Must-See Highlight

The San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox shocked the baseball world Sunday afternoon by completing a blockbuster swap that sends All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the Bay Area while right-handed fireballer Jordan Hicks headlines Boston’s return package alongside top prospect Kyle Harrison and two minor leaguers. Why the Red Sox wanted Jordan Hicks • 100-mph stuff: Hicks’ sinker still averages 97-99 mph and routinely touches triple digits, giving Boston instant back-end velocity. • Two years of control: The 28-year-old is in the second season of a four-year, $44 million contract that runs through 2027, allowing the Red Sox to keep him through their current competitive window. • Swing-role flexibility: Hicks opened 2025 in the Giants’ rotation but reverted to the bullpen after posting a 6.55 ERA over nine starts; San Francisco believes his elite ground-ball rate (56.3 percent) plays better in shorter bursts. Boston can audition him as a multi-inning weapon or stretch him back out if rotation depth thins. How Hicks fits Boston’s pitching blueprint Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has targeted power sinker/slider arms to pair with Fenway Park’s infield defense. Hicks induced a 19.8 percent strikeout rate even while pitching to contact as a starter; the Sox hope a bullpen move will push that figure back above 25 percent. Add his 56 percent ground-ball clip and Boston suddenly possesses a late-inning trio of Hicks, Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin capable of keeping balls off the Monster in tight games. Contract & financials • Hicks: owed $9.5 M in 2025, $9.5 M in 2026, $12 M in 2027 • Devers: owed $27.5 M annually through 2033 (Boston sends $18 M in cash to SF) The swap frees roughly $40 M in future payroll for Boston while handing San Francisco a middle-order anchor for the next eight seasons. Scouting snapshot: Jordan Hicks Fastball (sinker): 70/80 Slider: 55/80 Changeup: 50/80 Control: 45/80 Overall: 55/80 When Hicks keeps his sinker at the knees, hitters pound it into the dirt; when it rides up, walks and barrels follow. Boston’s analytics group will emphasize glove-side command and increased slider usage — the pitch limited opponents to a .174 average last season. Giants’ view: why dealing Hicks made sense San Francisco’s rotation depth (Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong, Blake Snell, Keaton Winn) allowed president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi to turn surplus pitching and payroll flexibility into a star left-handed bat. Devers immediately plugs the Giants’ decade-long hole at third base and lengthens a lineup that ranks just 11th in the National League in OPS vs. right-handed pitching. What’s next for Boston 1. Activate Hicks from the injured list (toe inflammation) and slot him into a high-leverage role. 2. Promote Kyle Harrison to the big-league rotation, likely bumping Tanner Houck to the bullpen. 3. Explore free-agent bats or minor trades to offset Devers’ offensive void at third base; Bobby Dalbec and Trevor Story are first in line for at-bats. Fantasy & betting impact • Hicks’ value spikes in saves+holds leagues; monitor manager Alex Cora’s usage patterns. • Red Sox team total unders gain appeal with another power arm in the late innings. • Devers’ RBI market deserves a bump hitting behind Jung Hoo Lee and Michael Conforto in Oracle Park. Bottom line Jordan Hicks leaves Oracle Park with mixed starting results but retains the triple-digit arsenal that once made him one of MLB’s most electric relievers. If Boston’s run-prevention plan clicks, the right-hander could become a late-inning staple at Fenway and the key to transforming a middling pitching staff into a postseason contender—while the Giants gamble that an MVP-caliber bat is worth the cost.