Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals selected Hicklen in the seventh round,with the 210th overall selection,of the 2017 MLB draft. [5] [6] He became the highest-selected player from UAB in the MLB draft. [6] [a] After not making an Opening Day roster for a minor league team in Kansas City's farm system in 2018,he was assigned to the Lexington Legends of the Single–A South Atlantic League in April and was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League in July. [8] His .307 batting average and 29 stolen bases with Lexington led the team. [9] Hicklen returned to Wilmington for the 2019 season. [3] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [10]
Hicklen played for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of Double-A South in 2021. [11] He began the 2022 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League. He batted .266 with five home runs,24 RBIs,and 11 stolen bases in 42 games. [12] The Royals promoted Hicklen to the major leagues on May 26; [13] he made his major league debut that night as the starting center fielder. [12] He returned to the minor leagues on May 31 when Kyle Isbel was activated. [14] Hicklen returned to the major leagues on July 14. [15] He was returned to the minors on July 18. In the minor leagues in 2022,he batted .248/.348/.502 in 480 at bats,and was third in the minor leagues with 202 strikeouts. [16]
Hicklen was assigned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2023 season. In 61 games,he batted .233/.338/.452 with 8 home runs,29 RBI,and 15 stolen bases. [17]
