Mike Kickham

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Mike Kickham
Kickham2013 (cropped).JPG
Kickham with the San Francisco Giants
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1988-12-12) December 12, 1988 (age 32)
St. Louis, Missouri
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 28, 2013, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record1–4
Earned run average10.10
Strikeouts49
Teams

Michael Joseph Kickham (born December 12, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants during 2013 and 2014, for the Boston Red Sox in 2020, and for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and 220 pounds (100 kg), he throws and bats left-handed.

Amateur career[]

Kickham attended Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri, and played for the school's baseball team. His senior season as a Falcon, he posted a 1.16 ERA with 65 strikeouts. He also hit for a .390 batting average as an outfielder. Kickham earned all-conference status at both positions.[1]

Kickham spent 2009 at Crowder College, where he went 3–3 with a 5.62 ERA. He struck out 47 batters in 41 innings.[2] After Crowder, Kickham transferred to Missouri State University, where he was enrolled in premedical studies and studied biology. For the Missouri State Bears baseball team, Kickham had a 4–9 record with a 5.25 ERA and 103 strikeouts, in 96 innings spanning 15 games.[3]

Professional career[]

San Francisco Giants[]

The San Francisco Giants selected Kickham in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB draft.[4] After spending 2010 with the rookie league squad, he spent 2011 with the Augusta Greenjackets. In 2012, he was promoted to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, where he posted an 11–10 record and a 3.05 earned run average (ERA) in 28 games.

After two months with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, the Giants promoted Kickham to the majors on May 26, 2013.[5] Kickham made his debut in a start against the Oakland Athletics, pitching 2+1⁄3 innings while allowing four runs on four hits and four walks; the Giants failed to come back, and Kickham suffered the loss.[6] With the Giants in 2013, Kickham made a total of 12 appearances (three starts), accruing an 0–3 record with 10.16 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 28+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7] In 2014, Kickham appeared in two games for the Giants, both in relief, allowing five runs in two innings pitched for a 22.50 ERA.[7] Overall, Kickham registered a 10.98 ERA for the Giants in a total of 14 appearances spanning 30+1⁄3 innings pitched.[7]

Chicago Cubs[]

On December 23, 2014, Kickham was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.[8] The Cubs then designated him for assignment on January 9.[9]

Seattle Mariners[]

He was then traded to the Seattle Mariners on January 14, 2015, for minor league pitcher Lars Huijer.[10] He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on May 4, 2015, when they re-added left-handed reliever Joe Beimel to the active roster.[11]

Texas Rangers[]

Kickham was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on May 5, 2015.[12] Kickham was released on June 11.[13]

Bridgeport Bluefish[]

Kickham signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on July 24, 2015. He was released on July 28, 2015, without making an appearance.

Second Stint with San Francisco Giants[]

Kickham signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants in January 2016.[14] He was released on May 30, 2016.[15]

Kansas City T-Bones[]

Kickham signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on June 26, 2016.

Miami Marlins[]

Kickham signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins on March 19, 2017. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017. He re-signed a minor league deal on January 13, 2018. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018. Kickham re-signed to a minor league deal on November 16, 2018, and was invited to spring training.[16] After spending the year in the minors, Kickham elected free agency on November 4, 2019.[17]

Boston Red Sox[]

On December 20, 2019, the Boston Red Sox signed Kickham to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.[18] His contract was selected on August 31, 2020.[19] He made his first appearance with the Red Sox on September 2, against the Atlanta Braves.[20] Kickham recorded his first MLB win on September 5, when he pitched two innings of scoreless relief and the Red Sox came back to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays with two ninth-inning runs.[21] Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Kickham appeared in five games (two starts), compiling a 1–1 record with 8.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched.[7] On October 26, Kickham was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.[22]

Los Angeles Dodgers[]

On January 8, 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers organization signed Kickham to a minor league contract.[23] On May 2, 2021, Kickham was selected to the 40-man roster and added to the Dodgers’ active roster.[24] He pitched two innings for the Dodgers that night against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed three runs on five hits. He was designated for assignment the following day.[25] On May 5, Kickham was outrighted to Triple-A.[26] He spent the rest of the season with the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers, where he had a 6.51 ERA in 20 appearances.[27] Kickham elected free agency on October 14.[28]

Scouting report[]

Kickham throws four pitches: a fastball at 91–95 miles per hour (146–153 km/h), a slider, a changeup, and an occasional curveball.[29]

References[]

  1. ^ "Mike Kickham Bio". Missouri State University. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "Mike Kickham". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  3. ^ Eymer, Rick (May 27, 2013). "Quiroz provides positive review on Kickham". MLB.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "Mike Kickham Signs Professional Contract With San Francisco". Missouri State University. August 10, 2010. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  5. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (May 26, 2013). "Mike Kickham chosen to fill in for veteran who helped him in the spring". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  6. ^ Eymer, Rick (May 29, 2013). "Giants fall to A's in Kickham's brief debut". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d "Mike Kickham Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cubs claim LHP Mike Kickham off waivers". ESPN.com. December 23, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "OF Chris Denorfia completes $2.6M deal 1-year deal with Cubs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. ^ "Seattle acquires LHP Kickham from Cubs for minor leaguer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  11. ^ Johns, Greg (May 4, 2015). "Shortstop Taylor called up as Mariners tweak roster". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "Rangers claim Kickham off waivers, move Rua to 60-day DL". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Other Rangers news: Team releases Michael Kickham; A draft pick served a one-year suspension at Vanderbilt". Dallas Morning News. June 11, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  14. ^ Eddy, Matt (January 18, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Jan. 8-14". Baseball America. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  15. ^ Polishuk, Mark (May 30, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 5/30/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
  16. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 22, 2018). "Minor League Transactions: Nov 6 - Nov 21". Baseball America. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  17. ^ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  18. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. December 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  19. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff - Transactions". MLB.com. August 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  20. ^ "Braves vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "Blue Jays vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  22. ^ Byrne, Connor (October 26, 2020). "Red Sox Outright 5 Players". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Mike Kickham". milb.com. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  24. ^ Harris, Blake (May 2, 2021). "Dodgers place Dustin May on 10-day IL, Corey Knebel on 60-day IL". SB Nation. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  25. ^ Polishuk, Mark (May 3, 2021). "Dodgers Claim Phil Bickford, Designate Mike Kickham". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  26. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions".
  27. ^ "Mike Kickham Minor, Independent & Winter League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "Players Recently Electing Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  29. ^ Mike Kickham | Baseball News Hound

External links[]

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