GLENDALE, Ariz. — Right-hander Jordan Hicks is trying to figure it out with the White Sox this spring. A starter last season with the Giants, he’s now falling back on his bullpen roots with the Cardinals.
Hicks had a miserable time starting for the Giants. He made nine starts and was 1-5 with a 6.95 ERA before being sent back to the bullpen. He eventually was traded to the Red Sox as part of the blockbuster deal that sent slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants.
On Feb. 1, the Red Sox dumped him on the Sox for a player to be named and a minor-leaguer. At 29, he’s a reclamation project, to say the least.
Asked by the Sun-Times on Tuesday whether he rather would start or relieve, Hicks shrugged.
‘‘At this point, I got my shot [to start],’’ Hicks said. ‘‘I just want to do what’s best for the team at the moment. If they want me back in the bullpen, then that’s what I’ll do.’’
In his salad days, Hicks used his 100 mph fastball to notch 28 saves in five seasons for the Cardinals. Sox manager Will Venable confirmed Hicks is ticketed for the bullpen, and Hicks said he would like to rediscover some of that magic.
‘‘I had a tough year last year,’’ he said. ‘‘Obviously, I wish I had gone about some things differently. I’m taking care of my body now. I wish I had come to this place one year earlier. But it is what it is. I’m just trying to be the best version of myself moving forward. I’m happy doing both.’’
Acuna getting acclimated
New center fielder Luisangel Acuna said through an interpreter that he’s beginning to feel comfortable in his new environment. Acuna was the key acquisition in the trade Jan. 20 that sent center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets.
Acuna played in the Sox’ Cactus League loss Monday to the Giants and went 2-for-3 with a home run in the fifth inning while batting second. On Tuesday, he was on the back fields playing in a ‘‘B’’ game.
‘‘I just want to have a good spring training and stay healthy,’’ he said. ‘‘Work on my offense and my defense.’’
About playing center, he said: ‘‘I’m very happy about that. I’m very comfortable out there. I played there in Venezuela and feel like it’s the position where I’ll be my best.’’
Newcomb stretching it out
Left-hander Sean Newcomb is one of nine pitchers Venable is stretching out in anticipation of choosing a five-man starting rotation before spring training finishes.
Newcomb, 32, was a reliever for the Athletics last season and didn’t make a start in 36 appearances. He made his second start of the spring Tuesday, this one against the Padres.
Does he prefer to start or relieve? A nine-year veteran now with his sixth team, Newcomb has been primarily a reliever since making a combined 49 starts in his first two seasons with the Braves.
‘‘I just want the ball, it really doesn’t matter,’’ Newcomb said after throwing 54 pitches in three innings. ‘‘The aspect of starting I like is the routine and the certainty. But there are pluses and minuses to both.’’
Padres 4, Sox 3
Sox starter Sean Newcomb allowed two runs and five hits, including a home run to Nick Castellanos, with a walk and a strikeout in three innings Tuesday.
‘‘It’s good to get through a little bit of everything,’’ Newcomb said about his outing. ‘‘I let up the homer there, so that was good to get out of the way.’’
• Pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez left during the seventh inning with tightness in his lower back. His status is day-to-day.
• Third baseman Miguel Vargas went 2-for-3 with a homer in the third inning against Padres starter Nick Pivetta.
• The Sox don’t have a game this spring against any of the World Baseball Classic teams, which played all over Arizona on Tuesday and will again Wednesday. The Dodgers host Mexico on Wednesday night at Camelback Ranch. The game is sold out.
• On deck: The Sox have the day off Wednesday. They will play the Guardians at 7 p.m. Thursday in Glendale.