Prospect looks to make fresh start
PHOENIX - With the Milwaukee Brewers having finally accumulated some pitching depth in the minor leagues, the lack of impact made thus far by Phil Bickford has gone relatively unnoticed.
The right-hander joined the organization via a deadline-day trade in 2016, but he has pitched in a grand total of 12 games — six at advanced Class A Brevard County to close out the 2016 season and six more in the Arizona Rookie League last year.
The starts and stops have been both self-inflicted and a result of bad luck.
Bickford opened what was going to be a highly anticipated 2017 season on the restricted list after being suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a drug of abuse. It was his second positive test; his first reportedly came prior to being drafted 18th overall by the San Francisco Giants in 2015.
Then, as Bickford was nearing the end of his suspension, he was struck by a batted ball in his right hand during an extended spring-training game. The shot fractured his ring and pinkie fingers, leading to surgery and another two-month absence.
Bickford did return to the mound in August, making six appearances (five starts) for the Arizona Rookie League Brewers, going 1-0 with a 2.12 earned run average with 16 strikeouts in 17 innings.
But it was a far cry from the type of competition he would have faced at advanced Class A Carolina, where Bickford would have spent most if not all of 2017.
Bickford, who now lives in the Phoenix area, spent much of the off-season working out and throwing at the Brewers' Maryvale complex. Now, with minor-league spring games just underway, Bickford is another face in a group of pitching prospects preparing themselves for 2018.
"Mindset-wise he was in a good place coming into camp, just wanting to win a job on a club, make a team," said farm director Tom Flanagan of Bickford's current status. Bickford hasn't been allowed to speak to the media this spring.
"Obviously like any guy in spring he’s had his ups and downs, but I think he’s just in a battle right now to win a spot on a club and at some point get in real games."
As a whole, the Aug. 1, 2016, trade that brought Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac to the Brewers from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for reliever Will Smith has failed to make an impact thus far for either club.
Susac hit .172 with one home run and two runs batted in over 17 games with the Brewers before he was traded on Feb. 2 to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named or cash, while Smith underwent Tommy John surgery last spring and missed the entire 2017 season.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Bickford remains the wild card in the deal. He'll turn 23 on July 10 and still has plenty of time to develop into a major-league-caliber pitcher - assuming he remains healthy and doesn't run afoul with another positive test. He would be subject to a season-long ban.
"I think it’s an important year for him," said Flanagan, who added Bickford is likely to open the season at Carolina. "Obviously you can’t make up for lost time in a week or in two weeks; it’s an ongoing process . ... taking it step by step.
"We like him, and he flashes some things on occasion that when you see him, he really wows you."
In 39 career minor-league appearances (37 starts), Bickford is 8-8 with a 2.71 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 159⁄ 13 innings.