Michael Darrell-Hicks #61

Michael Brian Darrell-Hicks...Attended Jacksonville University in 2022...Went 5-5 as a senior with a 4.13 ERA (72.0 IP - 33 ER) with 82 strikeouts...Ranked second on the team with 72 innings pitched and 82 strikeouts; Ranked sixth in conference in punchouts...Majored in Sport Management...Prior to Jacksonville, attended Western Kentucky University from 2017-2021 and went 3-4 with a 6.94 ERA (84.1 IP - 65 ER) and 81 strikeouts across four seasons...Led team with a 12.9 K/9 rate as a sophomore in 2018...Attended South Warren HS (Warren County, Ky.)....Earned All-State Second Team, All-Region and All-District honors...Was a four-year letter winner on the diamond, as well as a two-year letter winner in basketball...Son of Rose Hicks and Bart Darrell...Has one brother, Matt Taitt...Mother, Rose, played college basketball at Marshall...Brother, Matt, ran track and field at Western Kentucky...Favorite athlete is Kobe Bryant...Originally signed by Angels scout Chris McAlpin.

2024

Began season with Double-A Rocket City and went 6-4 with a 1.73 ERA (41.2 IP - 8 ER) and 46 strikeouts in 30 games in relief...First full season in the relief role since professional debut in 2022...Promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 13 and posted a 4.35 ERA (20.2 IP - 10 ER) with 23 strikeouts in 10 games...Held opponents to one-or-fewer earned runs in 36 of 40 appearances...Did not give up a run in 27 outings...Pitched in multiple innings in relief in 17 games...Recorded at least 12 outs in relief twice (Sept. 8, Sept. 21)...Set a career high with eight saves in 2024...Finished 23 games...Did not surrender a home run all season.