2024 Fantasy Baseball: What to Make of Garret Crochet & Jordan Hicks' Value

The first weekend of the 2024 MLB season gave us an initial look at the stars and some intriguing players from this spring. Garrett Crochet and Jordan Hicks, two hard-throwing young hurlers, got their first starts of 2024, performed very well in their new roles, and just might have gotten themselves firmly on the fantasy baseball radar.

A Look at Crochet and Hicks

Both Garrett Crochet and Jordan Hicks were relievers for either much or all of their careers. Crochet’s been in the bullpen since the White Sox drafted him out of college in 2020, while Hicks did get eight starts in 2022 for the Cardinals. However, the 27-year-old walked 21 over 26.1 IP and posted a 5.47 ERA.

Hicks’ first test as a starter didn’t go well this spring, as the ex-Cardinal gave up six runs and walked four over his first six innings in the Cactus League. He did settle down nicely and shined in his final spring tuneup when he struck out 10 Athletics on March 25.

Five days later in his first regular season, Hicks rolled against a deep Padres lineup, as he struck out six over five scoreless innings. To little shock, Hicks sat in the 96-98 MPH range with his sinker, down from the triple digits he regularly hit as a reliever. And, he did lose a few splitters that were non-competitive.

Still, his stuff played up well in the start and Hicks induced grounders with his sinker — exactly what the 27-year-old will need to do to succeed. He’s got the pitches, whether it be the sinker, sweeper, or splitter, to get outs. Command, though, will be the X-factor.

As for Crochet, the lefty’s relied on a hard fastball — albeit one with a lower IVB (15.7” in his first start in 2024) — to set up his slider. But for his first start, Crochet broke out a new cutter, actually averaged a harder fastball velocity than he did in 2021 and 2023 as a reliever, and dominated against the Tigers.

Crochet struck out eight over six frames and gave up just one run. He also didn’t walk anyone in a start that saw him work heavily with the four-seamer and slider, the latter of which was effective against both lefties and righties.

Garrett Crochet whiff map Opening Day 2024 — Crochet worked hitters up and down, primarily with the four-seam and slider.

The Giants signed Hicks to be a starter, meaning that even when Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray return, the 27-year-old should still be in the rotation provided he succeeds. And with Dylan Cease no longer in the picture, Crochet — a valuable reliever before 2024 — should get a lot of rope to work with as the Sox figure out who will be building blocks for the future.

Analysis

Hicks is the one to target over Crochet, the latter of whom has more appeal in AL-only leagues at the moment but could garner mixed league attention as the year goes on given how good his stuff is.

One, the Giants starter’s home stadium is drastically more favorable for pitchers. For those who need a refresher, the White Sox’s home stadium has a roughly even 100 Park Factor, while Oracle Park sits at a pitcher-friendly 97.

But more importantly, Hicks has a better shot of getting wins than Crochet, who pitches for a rebuilding White Sox team.