Trade acquisition Hicks starting rehab assignment with Red Sox debut on horizon

SAN FRANCISCO -- While the Red Sox are getting a reminder all weekend of the player that they traded during this reunion series with Rafael Devers at Oracle Park, they will get a key piece from that deal in uniform for the first time on the upcoming homestand.

Righty reliever Jordan Hicks, who was placed on the injured list while still with San Francisco on June 3 with right toe inflammation, will start a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

Manager Alex Cora is pointing to Friday’s homestand opener against the Blue Jays for the likely activation of Hicks.

When the Giants signed Hicks to a four-year, $44 million contract prior to the 2024 season, they transitioned the hard-throwing righty to a starting role.

For the final two months of the season, he moved back to the bullpen. This season, Hicks struggled as a starter, pitching to a 6.55 ERA and he was moved to relief for four outings before the toe injury.

At least for this season, the Sox plan on using Hicks exclusively as a reliever and he is expected to be an important part of the setup bridge to Aroldis Chapman. Hicks has an upper 90s fastball and has had stretches of dominance in his career as a reliever.

“I think at the beginning, we will allow him to get his feet wet, right? But we know what we can do,” said Cora. “He's done it before. I expect him to be up there with [Greg] Weissert and [Garrett Whitlock] and being a big part of [the high-leverage setup crew].”

Because Hicks is going to be used in relief, he shouldn’t need more than a small handful of rehab outings.

“I mean, obviously the role is different,” said Cora. “We don't have to build him up, but we have to respect the injury, and obviously the arm, that's the most important thing. So we'll see how he feels, and we're not putting pressure on him. Hey, ‘You've got to be here on Friday.’ Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready.”

But how about Friday?

“There’s a good chance,” Cora said.