Former SF Giants lefty to continue surprisingly long career in Atlantic League in 2025

When lefty Mike Kickham took the mound for the first time in the majors, the SF Giants were between their second and third championship titles. More than 10 years later, he is still pitching professionally, albeit this time with the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of the Atlantic League.

Former SF Giants lefty to continue surprisingly long career in Atlantic League in 2025

Kickham re-signed with Hagerstown according to a team announcement. He spent the 2024 season with them, pitching to a 5.69 ERA in 25 starts.

The left-handed hurler's longest stretch in the majors came with the Giants in 2013. He appeared in 12 games, including three starts, posting a 10.16 ERA with 29 strikeouts against 10 walks in 28.1 frames.

You never know when that next opportunity might arrive and Kickham had to remain patient. He did make two appearances with the Giants in 2014 but did not reappear in the majors for several more years.

If this story sounds familiar, it has happened with a couple of former Giants pitchers in recent years. Dan Runzler, who is now a pitching coach for the San Jose Giants, pitched in the majors in 2012, and then went five years between outings. He made a handful of appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017.

In 2024, Albert Suárez made his first appearance in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles following a six-year absence. He pitched for the Giants for two seasons beginning in 2016. Suárez pitched surprisingly well for Baltimore, recording a 3.70 ERA in 32 outings.

Kickham has a very similar career arc. He reappeared with the Boston Red Sox in 2020. The southpaw pitcher made six appearances, including recording his first and only (so far) career win in the majors. After being a sixth-round pick in 2010 and finally getting that stripe on your belt years later is a cool story of perseverance.

Kickham made one appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021. Since then, he has pitched in independent ball. That could be a function of MLB reducing minor league headcount in recent years. This has created fewer opportunities on the minor league circuit, but has opened up opportunities in independent ball. Kickham rejoins a Hagerstown team that had quite a few former major leaguers on the roster in 2024. This includes former Giants utility bat Abiatal Avelino.