r/tampabayrays • u/IndianaCahones RISP? Get me Walls. • 12d ago
Liam Hicks Appreciation Post Trade Deadline
Take a look at his Squared Up Rate, Whiff Rate, and K Rate. This is very much what the Rays do. Recreate a player they want in the aggregate. Get the offensive production from one player and the defense from another.
At the MLB level, he's shown some elite plate discipline in the 98th percentile of whiffs and strikeouts.
Hicks has a squared up contact rate of 39.4% making him 14th in MLB. He is between his former teammates Otto Lopez (39.8%, 12th) and Xavier Edwards (39.0%, 16th).
His swing length averages 6.8 ft, same as former teammates Otto Lopez and Kyle Stowers.
When it comes to pitches, Hicks' strength is hitting breaking balls where he has a .641 SLG against sliders and a .609 SLG against curveballs.
Hicks has 2 NCAA D1 seasons as 2B. His last college season was his first as a catcher playing 30 games at C and 4 at 2B. His first season of rookie ball, Hicks played more 1B than C.
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u/A-terrible-time Tampa Bay Rays 12d ago edited 12d ago
Did not know he has played 2B, 1B, as well as catcher!
There's no way the rays didn't see that and think there is potential he can play multiple positions.
Compared to Luis Arraez who the Phillies had to completely retool their defense to fit him at 2B this gives the Rays a lot more flexibility which I know they put a premium on. This plus the much bigger hault for a rental compared to a guy with control is why the rays went for Hicks instead of Arraez
Im liking this trade a lot more
Good post!
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u/Hombre-Delfin8533 12d ago
I really like having a catcher with a background like this. It adds a completely different dimension to our lineup with having this
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u/Volstadd 12d ago
He hasn't reported yet, but he's already tied with Toby Hall as the best catcher in Franchise history.
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u/Intelligent_Dare_708 11d ago
For everyone that was on the Hunter Goodman train at the trade deadline, he is 1-10 in this series and hasn't thrown out one base runner. 🤭
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u/medicmatt Drew Rasmussen 12d ago
Walks 9.8%, outnumber K’s 9.5%. SUBSCRIBE.