Nathan Hickey Isn't the Next Shohei Ohtani, but His Versatility Is Crucial to WooSox's Success

Worcester, MA — They say baseball can be like a whirlwind. It's a hectic sport than can change on a dime A prime example is how the WooSox had a player go from not being on the active roster to being the pitcher of record in the same day. In the span of a few hours, acting manager Iggy Suarez had to quickly alter his game plan; starting the day, the Worcester Red Sox had activated Matt Lloyd off of the injured list and in response moved Nathan Hickey to the development list. That was quickly changed as Roman Anthony was placed on the injured list by Boston. Needing a bat, the organization recalled Mickey Gasper to the big-league club and opened a roster spot once more for Hickey.

“It happened quick. I mean, that move was made earlier and then we go out for B.P [batting practice] and the Mickey move happened. We had the [roster] spot so Hickey comes back,” Suarez explained. The acting manager admitted that right away he deals with the admin part of the roster when this happens, as the farm director had to get league approval to activate Hickey off the developmental list.

It’s been a long season for Boston Red Sox prospect Nathan Hickey. The former catcher turned first baseman has not played often on the team due to a crowded infield that has forced Nick Sogard and Mickey Gasper over to the cold corner (prior to their promotions). And with Matt Lloyd off the injured list playing time is still hard to come by. The former fifth-round pick out of the University of Florida has made it into 18 games, hitting just .200/.327/.422 with a double, three home runs and six RBIs. In 2025, Hickey was a big piece in the lineup for Worcester, as his 17 home runs were second on the team while leading the offense with 75 RBIs. But with the prior need to keep 40-man roster guys such as Sogard and Gasper in the lineup, he has often been the odd-man out.

Despite that, he’s found a way to stay ready while unlocking a new and unexpected part of his game: emergency pitcher.

With the WooSox always in need of pitching help, the team has turned to position player pitching when the game has either gotten out of control or the team has run out of available pitchers for the game. In both situations, it’s been Hickey who has stepped up and pitched.

So far in 2026, he’s pitched in four games, giving the team 3 1/3 innings while allowing just one run on three hits and two walks. He also struck out one batter. In Hickey’s latest outing, he pitched the 12th inning of the May 7 game against Scranton, earning the win. Hickey has found enjoyment out of pitching, having offered to go in and pitch when the team needed help.

But despite being a position player, Hickey doesn’t pitch like one. So far on the season, he’s topped out at 87 mph and hasn’t thrown the usual eephus pitch like others in his situation; he genuinely tries to sequence his way through opposing lineups.

“I was just flicking it. In high school I’m pretty sure I was up to 95 [mph] so I can get it up there. But I’m not, it’s been cold, so I’m out there shivering. I’m trying to throw the ball,” Hickey admitted with a laugh. “I’m not trying to throw it by anybody. Just get it in the zone and if I throw it too soft, I feel like I won’t have any idea where it’s going.”

It isn’t often that teams turn to a position player to pitch. It’s even rarer when both teams are forced to use a position player. In his lone inning Hickey out-dueled Edinson Duran to claim the win. Hickey, however, didn’t even realize it, as the thought of winning was more important than earning the win.

“[Not] until the game was over and then like four guys came out and were like ‘Hey bro, you got the win’ and I was like, oh, that’s fine. I mean it was cool,” Hickey admitted with a smile.

To say it hasn’t been the season Hickey predicted it would is fair. However, his importance to the team is well known, whether on the mound or at-bat. Especially for Suarez as he handles the current roster crunch.

“He’s like, ‘Hey, so what’s the plan today?’ I was like you. Are you ready? How’s the arm feel? Good, he’s throwing. Always an option, he knows that,” Suarez joked when asked before the May 22 game if Hickey would be available for innings if needed. Despite the consistent presence as an emergency pitcher, Suarez still makes it a priority to give him a heads up before the game. “Seriously, like, just be ready in case. If things get sideways and we mess around with a tied game late and we got no more, you know, you’re gonna be the guy. Again, we don’t want to ambush those guys all of a sudden by going ‘Hey, Hickey, warm up’. So, he’s following along to the game, and we realize we’re running out of pitching. He’ll start loosening.”

But despite that, there’s always one consistent with Hickey’s pitching and the team.

“He’s always available,” Suarez admitted with a large smile.