| Mike Kickham | |
| Team: | Hagerstown Flying Boxcars |
| Number: | 4 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 12 December 1988 |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | May 28 |
| Debutyear: | 2013 |
| Debutteam: | San Francisco Giants |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2021 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 1–4 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 10.10 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 49 |
| Teams: | |
Michael Joseph Kickham (born December 12, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Listed at 6inchesft4inchesin (ftin) and 220lb, he throws and bats left-handed.
Kickham attended Glendale High School in Springfield, Missouri, and played for the school's baseball team. His senior season as a Falcon, he posted a 1.16 ERA with 65 strikeouts. He also hit for a .390 batting average as an outfielder. Kickham earned all-conference status at both positions.[1]
Kickham spent 2009 at Crowder College, where he went 3–3 with a 5.62 ERA. He struck out 47 batters in 41 innings.[2] After Crowder, Kickham transferred to Missouri State University, where he was enrolled in premedical studies and studied biology. For the Missouri State Bears baseball team, Kickham had a 4–9 record with a 5.25 ERA and 103 strikeouts, in 96 innings spanning 15 games.[3]
The San Francisco Giants selected Kickham in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB draft.[4] After spending 2010 with the rookie league squad, he spent 2011 with the Augusta Greenjackets. In 2012, he was promoted to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, where he posted an 11–10 record and a 3.05 earned run average (ERA) in 28 games.
After two months with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies, the Giants promoted Kickham to the majors on May 26, 2013.[5] Kickham made his debut in a start against the Oakland Athletics, pitching innings while allowing four runs on four hits and four walks; the Giants failed to come back, and Kickham suffered the loss.[6] With the Giants in 2013, Kickham made a total of 12 appearances (three starts), accruing an 0–3 record with 10.16 ERA and 29 strikeouts in innings pitched. In 2014, Kickham appeared in two games for the Giants, both in relief, allowing five runs in two innings pitched for a 22.50 ERA. Overall, Kickham registered a 10.98 ERA for the Giants in a total of 14 appearances spanning innings pitched.
On December 23, 2014, Kickham was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.[7] The Cubs then designated him for assignment on January 9.[8]
He was then traded to the Seattle Mariners on January 14, 2015, for minor league pitcher Lars Huijer.[9] He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on May 4, 2015, when they re-added left-handed reliever Joe Beimel to the active roster.[10]
Kickham was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on May 5, 2015.[11] Kickham was released on June 11.[12]
Kickham signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on July 24, 2015. He was released on July 28, 2015, without making an appearance.
Kickham signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants in January 2016.[13] He was released on May 30, 2016.[14]
Kickham signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on June 26, 2016.
On February 9, 2017, Kickham's contract was sold to the Miami Marlins organization.[15] In 27 games (25 starts) split between the Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes and Double–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he posted a cumulative 8–10 record and 3.65 ERA with 119 strikeouts in innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[16]
On January 13, 2018, Kickham re-signed with Miami on a minor league contract. In 20 games split between New Orleans, Jacksonville, and the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Marlins, he accumulated a 3.64 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 42.0 innings of work. He elected free agency on November 2.[17]
On November 16, 2018, Kickham again re-signed with Miami to a new minor league contract, and was invited to spring training.[18] He appeared in 31 contests (13 starts) for New Orleans, registering a 5–5 record and 4.27 ERA with 84 strikeouts in innings pitched. Kickham elected free agency after the year on November 4, 2019.[19]
On December 20, 2019, the Boston Red Sox signed Kickham to a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.[20] His contract was selected on August 31, 2020.[21] He made his first appearance with the Red Sox on September 2, against the Atlanta Braves.[22] Kickham recorded his first MLB win on September 5, when he pitched two innings of scoreless relief and the Red Sox came back to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays with two ninth-inning runs.[23] Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Kickham appeared in five games (two starts), compiling a 1–1 record with 8.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched.[24] On October 26, Kickham was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.[25]
On January 8, 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers organization signed Kickham to a minor league contract.[26] On May 2, 2021, Kickham was selected to the 40-man roster and added to the Dodgers’ active roster.[27] He pitched two innings for the Dodgers that night against the Milwaukee Brewers and allowed three runs on five hits. He was designated for assignment the following day.[28] On May 5, Kickham was outrighted to Triple-A.[29] He spent the rest of the season with the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers, where he had a 6.51 ERA in 20 appearances.[30] Kickham elected free agency on October 14.[31]
On February 15, 2022, Kickham signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.[32] However, he was released on April 15, prior to the start of the LMB season.[26] On April 27, Kickham signed with the Mariachis de Guadalajara of the Mexican League.[26] He made two appearances, giving up 5 earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. Kickham was released on May 2.[26]
On March 13, 2023, Kickham signed with the Florence Y'alls of the Frontier League.[33] In 7 starts for Florence, he struggled to a 9.12 ERA with 21 strikeouts in innings of work. On June 20, Kickham was released by the Y'alls.[34]
On June 25, 2023, Kickham signed with the Lexington Counter Clocks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[35] In 15 starts for the Counter Clocks, he struggled to a 1–7 record and 7.08 ERA with 55 strikeouts across innings of work. On February 27, 2024, Kickham was released by Lexington.[36]
On March 14, 2024, Kickham signed with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[37]
Kickham throws four pitches: a fastball at 91-, a slider, a changeup, and an occasional curveball.[38]