Phil Bickford has become one of the most accurate arms of the Los Angeles Dodgers when it comes to relieving games.
From being a low-key pitcher unknown to almost every fan, he has become the one that makes us wonder: why didn’t Dave bring Bickford?
His name, one that we prefer not to learn until he showed what kind of letters it was written in, has risen like a prop inside a bullpen that has been more than battered by injuries.
The current right-hand relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers has a history in professional baseball that dates back to 2013. He was then finishing high school at Oaks Christian High School in a small town called Westlake Village, California. That year he was selected in the first round (10th pick overall) of the Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but his decision was to pursue college life at California State University and eventually be transferred to College of Southern Nevada to be available during the 2015 draft.
For the second time he was selected in the first round (18th pick overall), this time by the San Francisco Giants.
Is Phil Bickford done with his supsension? Where do you suspect he’ll end up when he resumes pitching?
– Eric Schmitz (@ WI2AZ_Schmitty) June 26, 2017
In 2017, after being traded in exchange for pitcher Will Smith from the Giants to the Brewers, Phil was suspended 50 games for drug abuse and after breaking his pitching hand ended the season.
Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac were dealt for Will Smith.
I think the Parents hope for more. Seems modest.
– Mickey Koke (@mickeykoke) June 19, 2017
He made his MLB debut on September 1, 2020. Only 31 pitches were enough to allow the Detroit Tigers four earned runs.
The next page in his history brought him closer to the Dodgers, as on April 28 of this year he was designated for assignment after another one-inning, two-run allowed outing. Nothing seemed to work for the pitcher who had been selected twice in the first round in the amateur draft.
Dodgers Place Jimmy Nelson On 10-Day Injured List, Recall Phil Bickford https://t.co/4jiJ2eao3J pic.twitter.com/Z6HFMn6Aiu
– MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) May 23, 2021
You know the rest of the story and that is why we are here. Selected from waivers by the Dodgers and activated on May 23, in exchange for an injured Jimmy Nelson. The debut was immediate and that same day he got two outs against the team with which he turned professional.
Phil Bickford gets the last two outs. Inning over. #Dodgers eleven #Giants 5
– Dodgers Tailgate (@DodgersTailgate) May 23, 2021
The fact of making his debut against the Giants, has it had something to do with the attitude in the rest of history?
Phil Bickford has pitched for the Dodgers in 34 games. Only in 6 of them, 17.6%, have they allowed a clean score. Only 6% (1) of the runners that he has inherited in circulation (18) have ever registered on the homeplate. While rivals hit .202, his Whip is 1.053.
His pitches, a four-seam fastball averaging 93.8 mph (4.4 mph more than in 2020) and a slider that he now uses more frequently (15.2% in 2020 by 34% in 2021). Very occasionally (three times this season) he uses the change and the sinker.
Success, in the best mix and increased speed on the straight, working out of the zone and in the corners and scoring the first strike 60% of the time.
Finally, a question. Is Phil Bickford Really Andrew Friedman’s Secret Weapon or Another Masterpiece?