Graham Hicks

Infobox MLB player


name= Graham Hicks
position= Lefthand Pitcher
team= Washington Nationals
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bats= Left
throws= Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1990|2|9
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Graham Hicks (born February 9 1990 in Lakeland, Florida) is an left-handed starting pitcher in the Washington Nationals baseball organization. The Nationals selected him with the first pick (121st overall) of the fourth round in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. [ [http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060508aaa.html - UCF Signee Graham Hicks Selected in Fourth Round of MLB Draft ] ] Hicks signed for $475,000 on August 11, 2008 and was assigned to its Gulf Coast League team. [ [http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080811&content_id=3291592&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was - Nationals sign two Draft picks ] ]

High School

Hicks played three seasons (2006-2008) for George W. Jenkins High School out of Lakeland, Florida. Hicks went 15-2 with 155 strikeouts in 119 innings for a 0.41 earned run average in his last two seasons at Jenkins. Hicks went 3-5 with a 1.93 ERA his sophomore season. Hicks went 9-1 with a 0.54 ERA as a junior as he helped lead the Eagles to the district championship.During his senior season in 2008, Hicks went 8-1 with a 0.24 ERA in 59 innings. He struck out 81 batters, while walking 13 and giving up only two earned runs. [ [http://www.theledger.com/article/20080621/NEWS/806210436/1219/CAMPUS30&title=Polk_Lands_13_Players_On_2008_All_State_Teams - Polk Lands 13 Players On 2008 All-State Teams ] ] Hicks also swung the wood a bit, hitting .328 with one home run and 28 runs batted in as a senior. [ [http://www.theledger.com/article/20080605/NEWS/806050553/1254&title=Jenkins__Pitcher_Graham_Hicks_Emerged_As_Majors_Prospect_After_Increasing_Velocity - Jenkins' Pitcher Graham Hicks Emerged As Majors Prospect After Increasing Velocity ] ]

College

Hicks committed to the University of Central Florida Knights baseball program in the spring of 2008 but after being drafted, he signed with the Nationals and forgoed his college eligibility. [ [http://www.washtimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2008/Aug/11/nationals-sign-two-more-1/ - The Washington Times Nationals sign two more ] ]

Professional Career

Hicks first start of his professional career came on August 26, 2008 at the GCL Nationals baseball complex in Viera, Florida versus the GCL Mets. [ [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SPORTS/808270328/1002/SPORTS - GCL Nats win division ] ] Hicks pitched two innings, allowing one hit while striking out two batters. The win helped the Nationals capture the East Division title. [ [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2008_08_26_mtsrok_natrok_1 - Minor League Baseball Scoreboard August 26, 2008 ] ]

Honors

* 2007 - Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State [ [http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060508aaa.html - UCF Signee Graham Hicks Selected in Fourth Round of MLB Draft ] ]
* 2007 - World Wood Bat Association 18U National Champion as a member of Chet Lemon's Juice. [ [http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060508aaa.html - UCF Signee Graham Hicks Selected in Fourth Round of MLB Draft ] ]
* 2008 - Class 5A First-Team All-State [ [http://www.theledger.com/article/20080621/NEWS/806210436/1219/CAMPUS30&title=Polk_Lands_13_Players_On_2008_All_State_Teams - Polk Lands 13 Players On 2008 All-State Teams ] ]
* 2008 - FACA Baseball All-Star game participant

Scouting Report

"Hicks is long and lanky at 6-foot-5 and 170 pounds, and hasn’t come close to getting physically mature or strong yet. He consistently touched the upper-80s this spring with his fastball, and has a very good curveball and developing changeup. Hicks throws from a three-quarters release point and stays over his curveball well, giving it hard downward bite. He’s shown the ability to throw strikes with all his pitches and has an idea how to work hitters. A year ago, Hicks was topping out at 83-84 mph so the improvement over the course of the 2008 season gives scouts reason to think he’ll keep adding to his present stuff. He’s went 8-1 this year and threw a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a district semi-final win in the Florida state playoffs. — David Rawnsley" [ [http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/draft/2008/Rounds/round4.aspx - DRAFT 2008 Top 10 Rounds Round 4 (Picks 113-142) ] ]

External Links

* MLB.com video of Hicks pitching [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=706387&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_hicks_graham_400.wmv&mid=200806022819301&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true MLB.com Video of Hicks pitching] ]

References

Persondata
NAME= Graham Hicks
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Baseball pitcher
DATE OF BIRTH=February 9 1990
PLACE OF BIRTH=Lakeland, Lakeland, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=