Hicks traded to Detroit Tigers

Former Toronto Mets catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) is one of the players headed to the Detroit Tigers from the Texas Rangers in exchange for catcher Carson Kelly.

July 29, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Detroit Tigers sent catcher Carson Kelly to the Texas Rangers on Sunday in exchange for RHP Tyler Owens and former Toronto Mets catcher Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.).

The 25-year-old Hicks, a ninth-round selection by the Rangers in the 2021 MLB draft, owns a .260/.364/.353 slash line and .717 OPS in 80 games with the double-A Frisco RoughRiders this season.

The Canadian catcher has been working his way up the minor league ladder since his draft year. Last season, the left-handed hitting Hicks started the season in high-A Hickory and was promoted to double-A after a stellar run at the plate that saw him go 14-for-45 (.311 batting average) in 15 games.

He also had a solid run in the Arizona Fall League last year, posting a .449/.553/.522 slash line with five doubles and 12 RBIs.

With the double-A Frisco RoughRiders this season, Hicks has shown a solid eye at the plate that has helped him generate walks at an 11.7 BB% compared to a 12.6 K%. Sporting a .288 BAbip and a 107 wRC+, Hicks can hit the ball to all fields but is more known for his contact ability versus power. He has 15 doubles and four home runs this season.

So far in 2024, Hicks has 20 multi-hit games and he has collected a hit in all but one of his last 11 games.

Behind the plate, Hicks boasts a .990 fielding percentage with six passed balls, four errors, and 16 assists this season. He has thrown out 24% of base stealers, a considerable uptick from his previous numbers in the lower levels of the Rangers’ farm system. The RoughRiders have also used Hicks at the first base and DH positions.

With the deal, Hicks will be reporting to the Tigers’ double-A affiliate in Erie where he will join fellow Canadian Trei Cruz (Toronto, Ont.) on the SeaWolves roster.