Phil Bickford

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #17 prospect in 2018
  The 2017 season was mostly a lost one for Bickford, who was acquired from the Giants in August 2016 with catcher Andrew Susac in the trade of reliever Will Smith. First he was suspended 50 games following a second positive drug test, believed to be for marijuana. Then, while pitching in extended spring training in preparation to return to action, he took a liner off his pitching hand, fracturing it. Those setbacks resulted in Bickford pitching just 17 innings, all in the Rookie-level Arizona League. When on top of his game, he throws a four-seamer in the mid-90s and mixes in a low-90s two-seamer with sink that results in ground ball outs. His slider is a plus pitch when he stays on top of it, but gets slurvy at times when he loses his release point. A split-changeup gives him another pitch with above-average potential, which is why he should be able to remain a starter. Bickford is athletic on the mound, but also struggles at times with his mechanics, particularly dropping his arm slot. The Brewers need to be able count on him to remain clean and show he can remain focused to get the most out of his natural ability. Some scouts believe that Bickford is destined to eventually move to the bullpen, where his stuff will play better in shorter bursts, but the Brewers' plan is to continue to develop him as a starter.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #8 prospect in 2017
  Drafted 10th overall by the Blue Jays in 2013, Bickford didn't sign and went to Cal State Fullerton. After a big summer in the Cape Cod League, he transferred to the JC of Southern Nevada for 2015, then went to the Giants at No. 18 overall in that year's draft. The Brewers acquired Bickford plus catcher Andrew Susac when they sent reliever Will Smith to San Francisco at the 2016 trade deadline. Bickford recorded a 2.69 ERA through 17 starts at two Class A stops in the Giants system prior to the trade, but he struggled to throw strikes at high Class A Brevard County. A power pitcher, he can reach 95 mph with his high-spin, four-seam fastball and sits comfortably in the low 90s with a two-seamer that has good sink. His slider is an above-average pitch when he stays on top of it, but at times it becomes too slurvy. He made progress with his changeup and it can become a near-average pitch. Bickford's main issue is maintaining his release point because he tends to drop his elbow and lose tilt on his slider. Coaches have worked with him to dial back his velocity in order to command his pitches. Because Bickford can be electric in short bursts, some project him as a reliever, perhaps even a closer. The Brewers plan to keep him in the rotation until he shows he can't handle it. He'll start 2017 serving a 50-game suspension following his second positive test for a drug of a abuse.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #3 prospect in 2016
  Just like Giants 2014 first-rounder Tyler Beede, Bickford previously had been a first-round selection by the Blue Jays, who took him 10th overall in 2013 but failed to sign him. He spent one year at Cal State Fullerton, then transferred to JC of Southern Nevada. Bickford struck out 151 batters in 79 juco innings, and the Giants signed him for $2,333,800 as the 18th pick in the 2015 draft. Bickford's fastball is special, less for its velocity than for its movement. He works ahead of hitters with a 91-93 mph fastball, but when he gets to two strikes, he'll bump up to 95 regularly. His slider is a plus pitch as well when he stays on top of it. Bickford struggles to keep his release point because he tends to drop his elbow and push the ball, which causes his fastball to lose movement and his slider to flatten out. Bickford's changeup has good deception and fade at times but is inconsistent. He's not yet confident in its effectiveness. The Giants worked with Bickford on throwing with less effort, which has had the effect of making his delivery more repeatable. Some scouts see Bickford as a future two-pitch reliever, while others believe his fastball control and potential three-pitch mix make him a starter. He's ready for his full-season debut at low Class A Augusta in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2015 draft
  Bickford was a potential first-round pick entering 2013 after a strong Area Cod Games performance, but his velocity jumped that spring while pitching at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif. He wound up hitting 95-96 mph regularly with an ideal 6-foot-4, 195-pound body, and the Blue Jays drafted him 10th overall. However, Toronto couldn't come to terms with Bickford, who wound up going to Cal State Fullerton for one season, going 6-3, 2.13 in 76 innings. Bickford had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League and decided to transfer to JC of Southern Nevada to enter the 2015 draft, a prudent move in a weak draft class. However, Bickford hasn't consistently reached the 93-96 mph velocity he showed working in a relief role last summer in the Cape, more frequently sitting in the low 90s albeit with late sinking life. His power breaking ball flashed plus last summer but has remained inconsistent this spring, and his changeup remains in its nascent stages. However, he had a strong spring at CSN, as its known locally, winning Scenic West Athletic Conference pitcher of the year honors during a 9-1, 1.48 campaign that included a staggering 151 strikeouts in 79 innings. He had seven double-digit strikeout games against inferior wood-bat competition. Bickford's signability was tough to gauge in 2013, as was his makeup, but he hasn't made a four-year college commitment this spring and is expected to be signable this time around.
• Ranked #20 prospect in 2013 draft
  Bickford intrigued scouts with his projectable 6-foot-4, 195-pound body and 88-92 mph fastball last summer at the Area Code Games, and his velocity has jumped this spring, as has his draft stock. He pitches comfortably in the 90-93 mph range and regularly runs his fastball up to 95-96. He has a clean arm action and a three-quarters slot that gives his fastball good life, and he commands it well to both sides, prompting some scouts to grade it as a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scale. He's a short strider with an upright finish, and sometimes his slot drops below three-quarters, causing him to pitch uphill. Bickford's secondary stuff lags behind his fastball. He shows glimpses of a fringe-average slider, but he needs to do a better job staying on top of it. He tinkers with a changeup but seldom uses it because he can dominate high school hitters with his fastball. Bickford pumps strikes and works quickly, and his upside could get him drafted in the back of the first round, but many scouts are more comfortable with him as a second-rounder because of his underdeveloped offspeed stuff. Bickford could be a tough sign away from Cal State Fullerton.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #11 prospect in 2016
  Bickford struck out 10.4 batters per nine innings in his time with Augusta despite the fact that there were nights where he was pitching with one above-average pitch. The Giants traded him to the Brewers for reliever Will Smith in July. Bickford can cruise through a lineup the first time by throwing exclusively fastballs. He gets swings and misses despite modest 90-92 mph velocity, though he can touch 94. His fastball doesn't seem particularly lively until it gets close to the plate, at which point it appears to rise through the zone. That late hop and high spin rate makes it hard for batters to barrel. Bickford mixes in an inconsistent low-80s slider that flashes above-average potential but is just as often a fringe-average pitch. His below-average changeup has a long way to go.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #4 prospect in 2015
  Bickford didn't sign as a Blue Jays first-round pick out of high school in 2013. After one year at Cal State Fullerton, he transferred to JC of Southern Nevada, where he struck out 151 in 79 innings this year. The Giants selected Bickford with the 18th overall pick and signed the tall, lanky righthander for just over $2.3 million. The Giants decided to take it slowly with Bickford, keeping him in the AZL all summer and limiting his outings to no more than three innings. He dominated the competition, relying heavily on his fastball, which he delivers in the low to mid-90s, with his velocity increasing in his last few outings. His fastball plays up because of his excellent command and the pitch's late, sinking life, and he's adept at changing the speed of his fastball. Bickford shows good feel for his slider and an emerging changeup that he used infrequently. All three pitches project to be above-average major league offerings with command. Scouts noted better makeup than expected, and Giants coaches lauded Bickford for his superior work ethic. "He's a gamer," Giants pitching coach Mario Rodriguez said. "He goes on the mound and throws a low-90s fastball, and then when he's ahead in the count he can throw a 95-96 (mph) fastball. When he gets on top of the ball he can throw that nasty slider."

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bickford was drafted 10th overall by the Blue Jays out of high school, didn't sign and was picked in the first round again when the Giants selected him 18th overall in 2015. The Brewers acquired him one year later in the deal for lefthander Will Smith. Bickford flamed out as a starter and moved to the bullpen during the 2018 season. He had several strong outings at the alternate training site in 2020 and got called up for his major league debut on Sept. 1.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bickford overhauled his mechanics and now relies on deception and angle to help his stuff play up. His velocity is below-average, sitting 88-91 mph and scraping 93 mph, down from the mid 90s he sat as an amateur. Bickford has a crossfire delivery where he jumps toward the third base side, creating a difficult angle for righthanded hitters. Along with the movement on his fastball, he gets more uncomfortable swings than would otherwise be expected. Bickford's low-80s slider is a fringy pitch that sweeps across the zone and relies more on his angle than the quality of the pitch. Control was an issue earlier in Bickford's career, but he has made significant strides throwing strikes.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bickford will need more minor league time to begin 2021. He projects as a middle reliever.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Drafted 10th overall by the Blue Jays in 2013, Bickford didn't sign and went to Cal State Fullerton. After a big summer in the Cape Cod League, he transferred to the JC of Southern Nevada for 2015 but tested positive for marijuana. Despite that, Bickford was taken by the Giants at No. 18 in that year's draft. The Brewers acquired Bickford plus catcher Andrew Susac when they sent reliever Will Smith to San Francisco at the 2016 trade deadline. Scouting Report: Bickford struggled to throw strikes at high Class A Brevard County and pitched to a 3.67 ERA in his first 27 innings for the Brewers. He can reach 95 mph with his high-spin, four-seam fastball and sits comfortably in the low 90s with a two-seamer that has good sink. His slider is an above-average pitch when he stays on top of it, but at times it becomes too slurvy. He made progress with his changeup and it could become near-average. Bickford's main issue is maintaining his release point.
  
  The Future: Because Bickford can be electric in short bursts, some project him as a two-pitch, high-leverage reliever, perhaps even a closer. He tested positive for a drug of abuse this offseason for a second time and was suspended for 50 games.
• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Bickford was a potential first-round pick entering 2013 after a strong Area Cod Games performance, but his velocity jumped that spring while pitching at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif. He wound up hitting 95-96 mph regularly with an ideal 6-foot-4, 195-pound body, and the Blue Jays drafted him 10th overall. However, Toronto couldn't come to terms with Bickford, who wound up going to Cal State Fullerton for one season, going 6-3, 2.13 in 76 innings. Bickford had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League and decided to transfer to JC of Southern Nevada to enter the 2015 draft, a prudent move in a weak draft class. However, Bickford hasn't consistently reached the 93-96 mph velocity he showed working in a relief role last summer in the Cape, more frequently sitting in the low 90s albeit with late sinking life. His power breaking ball flashed plus last summer but has remained inconsistent this spring, and his changeup remains in its nascent stages. However, he had a strong spring at CSN, as its known locally, winning Scenic West Athletic Conference pitcher of the year honors during a 9-1, 1.48 campaign that included a staggering 151 strikeouts in 79 innings. He had seven double-digit strikeout games against inferior wood-bat competition. Bickford's signability was tough to gauge in 2013, as was his makeup, but he hasn't made a four-year college commitment this spring and is expected to be signable this time around.