Boston Red Sox: Welcome back to the big leagues Mike Kickham
Your Boston Red Sox continue to usher anyone with a right (or left) arm out to the mound to pitch and the next turn will go to Mike Kickham.
He hasn’t appeared in a major league game since 2014. He has a 10.98 career earned run average. He must be your next starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Get to know Mike Kickham. If he pitches well tonight against the Atlanta Braves, you may be seeing more of him.
Welcome back to the bigs, Mr. Kickham. Man, I love stories like this. Guy works his way up to the game’s highest level. Gets a taste of big-league coffee, struggles some, gets sent back to the minors.
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Bounces around from organization to organization on minor league contracts, without the invitation to spring training, and finally gets another crack at the big time.
That is Mike Kickham’s story, though now he has a chance to write the ending he wants, and maybe get that invitation to spring training next year.
Kickham last appeared in the majors in 2014 as a member of the San Francisco Giants. In fourteen career games, spanning two years, he struggled some. He was hit hard and hit far. He gave up too many home runs and had a WHIP over 2.
After leaving the Giants, he pitched for four other organizations, including the Miami Marlins last year. At AAA New Orleans he went 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA. The Red Sox signed him in the offseason, and here he is, getting to pitch at hallowed Fenway Park.
Kickham is getting this opportunity because the Red Sox are in shambles. Eleven different pitchers have started a game for the Sox, and there isn’t a pitcher on the roster who has won more than two games.
Next. Red Sox painful 2020 season finally pays off. dark
For a team that sits in the cellar of the division, September is the time to evaluate players. At 31 years of age, it is hard to believe Mike Kickham is a part of the long term plans in Boston. He could be auditioning for a job next year, somewhere. Who knows. For the time being, he’s a man with a dream and an opportunity.
Go get ’em, Mike!