WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It had been two birthdays, two Christmases, and almost 21 months since Jordan Hicks tugged on cleats and tested his fastball against a hitter from another team. The plan going into this first game appearance since elbow surgery was to assert his sinker, the elite sizzler that had the highest average velocity in the majors when last Hicks was healthy enough to throw it.
His pitching coach said Hicks was nervous.
That passed, and fast.
Hicks pitched a perfect inning in a B-game at Washington’s spring facility, needing 11 pitches to retire three batters without a ball leaving the infield.