Liam Hicks Enjoys Tampa Bay’s Clubhouse Vibe And Chance To Catch More

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Tampa Bay Rays Catcher Liam Hicks trots back to the dugout during a game between the New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays on August 31, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersbur. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Visit h-doctor.club for more information.

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Liam Hicks did not want to leave Miami. It is a city he enjoyed playing in and the Marlins are a team he enjoyed playing for. Yet, something was missing as this season rolled along and the trade deadline neared.

“I really enjoyed Miami, I had really good friends there, but I also wasn’t catching that much,” Hicks said prior to this past weekend’s series opener against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field. “I knew that I had value as a catcher, and they had Joe (Mack), who has been a really good catcher this year and is a little younger. He’s definitely the guy that they’re kind of looking to lean on. So, if a trade happened, I was I was looking forward to having an opportunity to catch more often.”

As a rookie with the Marlins in 2025, the 27-year-old Hicks started 92 games with 49 of them behind the plate, 23 at first base and 20 as the designated hitter. This season, in a nearly identical number of starts (90) prior to the trade, he started 39 as the DH, 32 behind the plate and 19 at first base. It was clear the 23-year-old Mack, who like Hicks hits from the left side, was the preferred choice to be the Marlins’ primary catcher.

In being dealt to the Rays for three minor leaguers on August 3, Hicks joined a team that had a 3.5-game lead in the American League East. Tampa Bay has remained in first place and concluded play Sunday with a division-clinching magic number of two.

"That’s the first thing I noticed,” said the Toronto native, who as a high schooler rooted for a Blue Jays team that featured Canadian-born catcher, Russell Martin, who grew up less than 10 miles outside Toronto. “So, that was really exciting and I was super excited for the opportunity to help them win and help them accomplish their goal.”

The goal is to nail down the division followed by a lengthy run through October. Hicks, who was batting .305 with an .865 OPS (through September 21) in a Tampa Bay uniform, had to learn and adjust to a different group of pitchers.

“It was nerve-racking trying to learn a new pitching staff, but the (coaching) staff did a really good job of giving me information while not overwhelming me with a ton,” said Hicks, who since the trade started 27 of the Rays’ 43 games behind the plate where he platoons with Nick Fortes. “After catching each pitcher maybe once or twice, I feel I had a really good idea of what they like and how to call pitches.”

Kevin Cash could not agree more. The Rays’ manager noted he is not involved in the chit chat regarding how to pitch to opposing batters, though he can hear and see how well Hicks has adapted.

“I am not involved in the conversations during the game, but I hear a lot of them between Kyle (Snyder, pitching coach), Liam and Tomas (Francisco, field coordinator) talking about the next three or four batters,” said the skipper. “There is so much receptiveness on both sides. Give Liam a ton of credit. He really cares a lot and has been awesome for us on both sides of the ball.”

Maple Leafs fan in Lightning territory

Growing up in a household of Toronto Maple Leafs fans, hockey was often first and foremost when it came to sporting interests. In fact, Hicks was a goalie in high school and among his favorite players was James Reimer, who tended goal for the hometown NHL team the first five-plus seasons of his lengthy career.

“I liked (Mitch) Marner a lot before he was traded (to Vegas in July 2025),” he said. “He grew up in Toronto, so it was cool when he was drafted. I like (Austin) Matthews and when I was growing up Mats Sundin was kind of the big player (to follow.)”

As his high school athletic career progressed at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, Hicks could see that baseball and not hockey was the better option. Hence, in his junior year he ditched the pads and place much of his focus on improving his game while donning the “Tools of Ignorance.”

“All of my friends played hockey and I was a pretty good player, but I was kind of middle of the pack compared to everyone else,” he said. "I didn’t have a ton of friends that played baseball, but I was one of the better players among my friends. So, I just tried to enjoy practicing more for baseball and getting better at baseball.”

Hicks did just that and was rated the No. 2 catcher in Ontario by Prep Baseball Report. His pursuit of a baseball career took him to a junior college in Missouri before transferring to Arkansas State where in his final season of 2021 he hit .344 and was named to the Buster Posey watch list as one of the nation’s top catchers. He was drafted in the ninth round by the Rangers that spring.

Hicks played all or part of four seasons in the Texas system before he was traded to the Tigers during the 2024 season. Miami selected him in the Rule 5 Draft that December, he made the Marlins’ 2025 Opening Day roster and hit .247 with six homers and a .692 OPS in 119 games as rookie. Combined with the Marlins and Rays this season, Hicks is batting .288 with 18 home runs and an .811 OPS.

“They keep things loose,” he said of a Tampa Bay clubhouse he has been part of for seven weeks. “After a loss, there’s no bad vibes. It’s a really good team and one that is able to bounce back.”

As far as his love for the Maple Leafs is concerned, well, maybe there is not as much love as when he was younger. After all, baseball consumes is his sport and his career.

“I know they’ve got some bad history with Tampa,” he of the Atlantic Division rivalry. “Tampa seemed to always beat them when I was really big into hockey. I am definitely still a Leafs fan, but I don’t get to watch them as much as I used to.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Read full story at source