Canadian catcher gets first major league RBI

Hicks has found himself the everyday catcher for the Marlins, and is .235. with four hits and one RBI through the first six games of his big league career. Three of those hits have come in the last two games.

Hicks, who played two season for Arkansas State University after transferring from Mineral Area College, was originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round - 254th overall - in the 2021 entry draft and received a $30000 signing bonus.

After reaching as high as Double-A Frisco, he was sent to the Detroit Tigers along with Tyler Owens in exchange for Carson Kelly. The Marlins selected him the Rule 5 Draft this past December.

As a Rule 5 pick, Hicks has to remain on the 26-man roster all season otherwise the Marlins have to return him to the Tigers for $25000, half of the standard $50K asking price. The exception to this is an injury or a trade. In the case of the latter, the new team would have to roster the player.

Still just 25, Hicks is the now the number one catcher for Miami, with Nick Fortest as his back-up. While the season is only about 10 days old, he has so far held his ground and could be a viable part of the Marlins future if he continues his success.

Earlier this year, he formed part of a rare All-Canadian battery when he caught fellow Canadian Cal Quantrill.

The first All-Canadian battery goes back to 1883 when Springfield, Ontario native James "Tip" O'Neill, who was better known as an outfielder, took the mound for the New York Gothams, His catcher that day was John Humphries, from North Gower, Ontario.