Liam Hicks: Marlins' Rule Five Draft Gem

0:00On April 25th, Miami-Marlin snagged a gym and catcher Liam Hicks through the Rule 5 draft back in 2024 and now in 2026. He's turning heads as one of the best hitting backstops in the majors. Despite the team's league low payroll, Hicks is mashing with a 317 batting average, RBIs, 24 RBIs and a 537 slugging, percentage, all tops or near the top among catchers. His game has exploded from last year when he manages 5 homers in nearly 400 played appearances. Now he's second in on-base percentage at 359 and third in weighted runs created plus at 143, showing real growth behind the dish. Teams like the Texas Rangers who drafted him 7th round in 2021 and the Detroit Tigers who let him slip away must be kicking themselves. For Miami, it's pure gold, especially with Hicks delivering in clutch spots that elevate the whole lineup.

1:00Take their 9-4 route of the San Francisco Giants last Friday, Hicks crushed a 2 run homer in the first to jump ahead 3-0 then, added a sacrifice fly in the third for more breathing room, that early fire power let starters Sandy Alcantara cruise. If Hicks sustains this fire, the Marlins could shock the league again, proving low budget ball can still pack a punch. I'm Koi with the story, that's your MLB news today update, AI powered and always on.