Mike Kickham, LHP. DOB: 12/12/1988. 6'4", 205 lbs. B-L, T-L.
AA: 11-10, 3.05, 150.2 IP, 75 BB, 137 K, GO/AO= 1.61.
Mike Kickham was drafted out of Missouri State in the 6'th round of the 2010 draft. He only got into 3 AZL games that summer and stumbled out of the gate with a 11.57 ERA in 2.1 IP. The Giants played it conservatively in 2011 assigning him to low A ball in Augusta. He started off slowly there too but made some adjustments around mid-season and finished very strong posting an overall line of 5-10, 4.11, 111.2 IP, 37 BB, 103 K with a modest groundball tendency, GO/AO= 1.46.
This time the Giants go aggressive with him and promoted him over high A SJ sending him to AA Richmond for 2012. He pitched well there all year, but improved his K/BB as the season progressed posting a 61/23 ratio post All-Star Break. For the months of June, July and August combined, he posted a 2.77 ERA before allowing 3 runs in 2 IP in one September appearance to bring his ERA after June 1 up to his season average.
I have not seen Kickham pitch, but he reportedly has a low 90's FB that he can get up to 94. In an interview he said the hardest he ever threw a single pitch was 95 MPH. He has a plus slider that he has a lot of confidence in. He said in the same interview that he feels he can get any hitter out with the slider. He also has a curve and change that he is developing.
I really like Kickham a lot. I love his size and tools. I like his attitude from interviews I've read. He seems to have an ability to accept instruction and work through challenges coming out stronger in the end. I like the way the Giants are developing him in an aggressively deliberate way. I think you could make a case for him ranking at high as #4 on this list, but regardless of his exact ranking, isn't it great the Giants have prospects in the system we can have that conversation about? While the Giants don't currently have that grade A blue chip prospect at the top, I don't think there are all that many organizations who have a prospect as good as Kickham at #10.
AAA will be a big test, but the Giants can afford to be patient with him and make sure he is fully developed as a pitcher by the time they need him in the majors. Hate to say it, but I also think he is building up a lot of trade value should a need for that arise. Oh, and if you are a numbers freak, he turned 24 yo on 12/12/12.
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I like that he improves season over season and makes progress during the season as well.
ReplyDeleteIf he continues the trend, he should do well in Freson and beyond.
91-92 MPH is pretty good. I think that's where Cain sits (maybe I am wrong) these days. Guys like Jonathan Sanchez and Trevor Wilson (that's a long time ago), how fast do/did they throw?
Trevor Wilson was low 90's, I believe. Sanchez could get it up to 96 at times, but was wild as a hare.
DeleteMy question on Kickham is will he be ready for a spot start in 2013 if one of the MLB starters goes down due to injury? The Giants were fortunate in 2012 that none of their starting pitchers went down for an extended period due to injury. Speaking of starting pitching depth, I'm wondering if Eric Surkamp will be fully healthy in 2013.
ReplyDeleteLG
There seems to be a wide range of comeback timetables from TJ surgery. Some guys come out firing at the one year mark with no loss or even a gain in velocity. Other guys take a year or even two to get their command back and some guys are never the same again. The Giants have tended to be conservative with their post-TJ prospects having them start out with a few innings pitched at a time in the low minors. I'm going to say I think Surkamp will start out in extended spring training then pitch a bit in Arizona when short season opens and then work his way back to the upper minors depending on how he is throwing.
DeleteI do think Kickham can be a reasonable 6'th starter option by mid-season depending on now his AAA season starts out.
With two potential openings in the Giants rotation after the 2013 season, someone like Kickham should hopefully be a really nice option to fill one of them. Having both him and Heston in Fresno gives the Giants some young starting depth they haven't had in awhile. I suspect Heston would be the one to get a spot start or two this season since he's already on the 40-man, but Kickham seems the most likely to graduate to a full time spot in the rotation down the line. With either Zito or Lincecum gone after the year, a solid season in AAA should put Kickham in line to compete for a spot in the 2014 rotation.
ReplyDeleteBarring a truly breakout season by Heston or Kickham, I think that DrBs astute call that we very likely will see the Giants pick up Zitos option come true. I still think and hope the Giants sign Lincecum long term as well, though I am beginning to wonder if our nice set of pitching prospects might lead the Giants to think of giving the qualifying contract offer to get a draft pick for him.
DeleteI agree that Heston most likely will be the one getting spot starts to give our starters a rest, but that Kickham will be the one to graduate first to a rotation spot, probably after Zitos option year. Though by then Crick, Blackburn, and Stratton could also be pushing for a spot as well. Which leads back to the Lincecum question...
Interesting note about trade value at the end Doc. I thought he was trade bait #1B with Rosin last year. They held onto him, I think that means a lot to his value. Sabean won't hesitate to ship an arm to get a deal done. I think the chances are high he's a trade piece that will take a Alderson type grind negotiation to get the Greybeards to let go of. Great point about him being a great depth piece as a #8-10 guy in the org.
ReplyDeleteI just don't think Peguero is going to be able to handle the MLB transition, and has a bench player ceiling.
ReplyDeleteWith Gregor Blanco having shown some great "wares" in the playoffs and WS, along with the Torres pickup and somewhat of a surplus at the Rosin, Surkamp, Heston, Kickham pitching tier in the Giants system, I'm really wondering if the Giants brass is going to make a trade for a Swisher/Pagan type of outfielder to make that last upgrade going into 2013.
I think this returning WS roster is FAR better and more complete than the one returning from 2010. However, I think Sabean has in his mind that standing pat, even with a great roster, isn't the way to build on a winning culture.
I'm looking for the Giants to make a play for a LF to slot between Pence & in front of Belt just ahead of spring training. Not an Upton, but perhaps a guy they think may become the next Upton.
-Rainball
Ooos, meant to put this in the Peguero thread. I'll move it over there.
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