Brewers' Brewer Hicklen: Receives NRI from Brewers
Rotowire
Hicklen signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
He's been given an invitation to spring training as part of the deal. Hicklen received a cup of coffee in the majors with the Royals in 2022 but spent all of 2023 at the Triple-A level between the Kansas City and Philadelphia organizations, posting an .804 OPS. He'll compete for a reserve outfielder job this spring but is likely headed to Triple-A Nashville.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Sidelined with elbow injury
Rotowire
Hicklen will miss eight weeks with a right elbow strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
The outfield prospect isn't on the 40-man roster and was unlikely to make the team anyway, but he'll now get a late start at Triple-A Omaha. Hicklen posted an .850 OPS with 28 homers and 35 steals for Omaha last season, although that also came with 202 strikeouts.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Promoted from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Royals selected Hicklen's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.
Hicklen was one of eight players summoned from the minors ahead of the Royals' four-game series in Toronto, where the big club will be without the 10 players on the active roster who were moved to the restricted list Thursday due to their vaccination statuses. The Royals plan on adding two more players from the minors this weekend, but those call-ups will likely come on the pitching side. Kansas City is rolling out a starting outfield Thursday that includes Edward Olivares and Ryan O'Hearn at the two corner spots and Triple-A call-up Nate Eaton in center, so Hicklen could be limited to a depth role while he's up with the big club this weekend. Hicklen has produced an .869 OPS while going 18-for-18 on stolen-base attempts over 311 plate appearances with Omaha this season.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Heading back to minors
Rotowire
Hicklen was returned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.
The 26-year-old spent the last few days with the major-league club as a replacement player after Kyle Isbel (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list. Hicklen went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts over two games and will head back to the minors since Isbel was activated Monday.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Remains out of lineup
Rotowire
Hicklen isn't starting Saturday against Minnesota.
After making his major-league debut Thursday against the Twins, Hicklen will be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Whit Merrifield will shift to center field while Salvador Perez returns to action as the designated hitter.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Hicklen isn't starting Friday against the Twins.
Hicklen made his major-league debut Thursday against Minnesota but went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. While he's a strong candidate to see playing time in center field while Michael Taylor and Kyle Isbel are on the COVID-19 injured list, Whit Merrifield will shift to center while Ryan O'Hearn serves as the designated hitter Friday.
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Royals' Brewer Hicklen: Promoted for big-league debut
Rotowire
Hicklen's contract was selected from Triple-A Omaha and he is starting in center field Thursday at Minnesota.
Kyle Isbel (illness) is joining Michael Taylor (illness) on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, and Hicklen will be called up for his MLB debut as a result. Hicklen has a .266/.350/.455 slash line with five home runs, 24 RBI and 11 stolen bases through 42 games with Omaha this season, and he could play a significant role for the Royals with both Isbel and Taylor out.
