5 issues to learn about gamers Purple Sox acquired in Devers’ commerce
Purple Sox
The Purple Sox acquired three pitchers and an outfielder as a part of the return for Rafael Devers.
The Boston Purple Sox reeled off one of many extra surprising trades in current reminiscence on Sunday, dealing star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants.
Past reportedly transferring the whole lot of Devers’ contract off their books, the Purple Sox acquired a four-player bundle from San Francisco: pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison, together with prospects James Tibbs and Jose Bello.
Listed below are 5 issues to know concerning the return Boston secured from sending its face of the franchise out to the Bay Space.
1. Hicks has struggled as a starter
At first look, Hicks seems to be a possible high-upside starter inked to a considerably team-friendly deal (for a starter) at 4 years and $44 million (via 2027). WEEI’s Rob Bradford even reported Sunday that the Purple Sox tried to signal Hicks forward of the 2024 season earlier than he joined the Giants.
Hicks has the arsenal of pitchers to be an electrical arm in a beginning rotation. However the 28-year-old righty — who primarily operated out of the bullpen over the primary 5 years of his MLB profession — has not settled right into a groove since making the swap as a starter.
After sporting a 4.10 ERA final season with the Giants (29 video games, 20 begins), Hicks has been knocked for a 6.47 ERA throughout 13 video games this season, together with 9 begins. These poor outcomes prompted the Giants to maneuver Hicks to the bullpen in Could.
Since that demotion, Hicks has appeared in 4 video games as a reliever — permitting two runs over 3.1 innings of labor, earlier than touchdown on the IL earlier this month.
2. Hicks is likely one of the hardest throwers in MLB historical past
Hicks’ calling card on the mound is his blistering fastball — as he repeatedly threw a pitch between 103-105 miles per hour throughout the 2018 season with the St. Louis Cardinals. The one gamers to throw a quicker pitch in MLB historical past are now-Purple Sox teammate Aroldis Chapman (105.8 miles per hour) and Angels reliever Ben Joyce (105.5 miles per hour).
Hicks’ common fastball velocity has dipped some since his early days within the large leagues — though averaging 97.3 miles per hour on his fastball this season nonetheless places him within the 92nd percentile of big-leaguers in 2025.
The Purple Sox may be capable to lean extra in these high-velocity choices from Hicks by protecting him within the bullpen, though that will immediately make his contract turn out to be a pricy deal for a reliever.
3. Harrison might need the very best upside on this return
No participant heading again to Boston on this deal will be capable to replicate Devers’ uncooked manufacturing on the plate.
However a 23-year-old pitcher like Harrison no less than has the potential to be a gradual presence in Boston’s beginning rotation for the foreseeable future.
One a prime prospect, Harrison logged 24 begins in his first full season within the majors throughout the 2024 season, sporting a 4.56 ERA that season.
He opened this 12 months in Triple-A Sacramento earlier than becoming a member of the Giants’ big-league roster once more in Could. In eight video games (4 begins), Harrison is 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA. Harrison’s sturdy fastball velocity led to some promising returns out of the bullpen this season, whereas his transition again as a starter has been a bit rockier (4.91 ERA over these 4 begins).
Regardless that Harrison has some upside, the Purple Sox are going to be affected person with the southpaw’s improvement, because the crew opted to assign him to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.
4. Tibbs was one of many prime prospects in San Francisco’s system
Whereas not as established as a few of the different children within the Giants’ group — headlined by MLB Pipeline’s No. 19 prospect in Bryce Eldridge — Tibbs was tabbed as San Francisco’s No. 3 total prospect by Baseball America.
Tibbs was chosen No. 13 total within the 2024 MLB Draft — only one spot after the Purple Sox chosen Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery at No. 12 total. Boston traded Montgomery as a part of the bundle to amass Garrett Crochet from the White Sox just some months later.
Tibbs, a 22-year-old outfielder, was batting .246 with 12 homers, 10 doubles, one triple, 32 RBIs, 41 runs, 42 walks and 45 strikeouts in 57 video games for Excessive-A Eugene this season.
“Tibbs supplied among the best mixtures of swing choices and exhausting contact within the Draft,” MLB Pipeline mentioned of Tibbs’ strategy. “He has a easy left-handed swing with loads of bat pace and energy, giving him strong energy to all fields.
“Whereas at Florida State, he closed the holes he as soon as had towards breaking pitches, shrunk his strikeout fee from 32 % as a freshman to 12 % as a junior and boosted his stroll fee from 12 % to 18 %.”
5. Bello has a really restricted monitor document
It’s going to take a while to discern simply how a lot big-league upside Bello has. Signed as a world free agent by the Giants in January 2023, Bello is a 20-year-old pitcher who has sported a 2.00 ERA out of the bullpen throughout rookie ball this season inside San Francisco’s group.
The 6-foot-1 righty has pitched 18 innings to this point this season within the Florida Advanced League, placing out 28 batters whereas permitting three walks and 4 earned runs.
Neither MLB Pipeline or Baseball America had Bello tabbed as one of many Giants’ prime 30 prospects.
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