ANAHEIM -- It was a long road to the Majors for reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks, who was called up to the big leagues for the first time with the Angels on Sunday.
Darrell-Hicks, 27, was undrafted in 2022 after six years in college and struggled in his first year in pro ball, posting a 10.61 ERA in 9 1/3 innings at Single-A Inland Empire, causing him to get moved to the development list. But Darrell-Hicks started to turn things around in ¡¯23 and was finally rewarded with his callup on Sunday with No. 2 prospect Caden Dana optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after he threw three innings in relief on Saturday. Darrell-Hicks, who had a 4.15 ERA with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings at Triple-A Salt Lake, was added to the roster with Hans Crouse released after sustaining an injury while pitching in Triple-A on Thursday.
¡°It means everything,¡± Darrell-Hicks said. ¡°I've been working for countless years, and I feel like I've overcome a lot and had a really strong support system around me, with my family and my friends and unbelievable coaches, and I'm just very thankful.¡±
Darrell-Hicks, a Bowling Green, Ky. product, began his career at Western Kentucky University in 2017 but underwent Tommy John surgery after his sophomore year that caused him to miss the ¡¯19 season. He worked his way back to be the club¡¯s Friday starter in ¡¯20, only for the COVID-19 pandemic to cancel his season after making just four starts. He then threw only 10 2/3 innings in ¡¯21 and thought about giving up baseball because he had already earned his degree. But those close to him urged him to keep playing and he transferred to Jacksonville University where he had a breakout year.
¡°I really didn¡¯t pitch for like three years,¡± Darrell-Hicks said. ¡°It was hard mentally. I got my degree, and I didn't know if I wanted to continue playing. The strong support group I had, they kind of kept my head on my shoulders, and they're like you should keep going, and you keep good things will happen for you. And sure enough. Wow.¡±
Darrell-Hicks went on to post a 4.13 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 72 innings in his senior year at Jacksonville and also found a workout facility that he still utilizes and believes has been key to his success.
¡°When I went to Jacksonville University, that was probably the best thing I ever did for my career,¡± Darrell-Hicks said. ¡°And I got to work through a lot of a lot of jams, and, you know, just figure out some things about myself on the mound that I hadn't gotten to do the last three years.¡±
Darrell-Hicks, though, still didn¡¯t get drafted, as he was already 24 years old. But the Angels offered him a contract and to this day he still doesn¡¯t know how they found him, as they never contacted him prior to the Draft, unlike a few other clubs who indicated interest.
¡°I was in my sixth year in my last year of college, so teams aren't really looking at guys like that,¡± Darrell-Hicks said. ¡°I had good stuff, and I was just hoping for an opportunity. I got contacted about maybe being a senior sign but nothing came through. And then I didn't hear anything for about a week, and then the Angels contacted me, and it's so funny, because I had never really talked to anyone with the Angels ever before.¡±
But now he¡¯s certainly on the club¡¯s radar, especially after a strong year in '24, posting a 2.60 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 13 walks in 62 1/3 innings across Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. Manager Ron Washington also got the chance to see him pitch this spring and is excited to see what he can bring, although it could be a short first stint in the Majors with Ryan Johnson expected to be activated from the paternity list on Tuesday.
¡°I just told him, come in and have fun,¡± Washington said. ¡°If we call on him, just stay in the moment and get outs. Keep it simple. He¡¯s got some potential but I¡¯d like to see it up here.¡±