The Philadelphia Phillies have reacquired outfielder Brewer Hicklen from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations. The team has optioned Hicklen to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To accommodate this move on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Ryan Cusick has been designated for assignment.
The announcement was made by Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations for the Phillies.
Hicklen, who is 29 years old, has achieved a batting line of .256/.356/.454 with an OPS of .820 during his Minor League career. He has hit 120 home runs and driven in 420 RBI while scoring 500 runs over 755 games. This season, he posted a batting average of .227 with eight doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 31 RBI across 61 games for Triple-A Toledo. In his only Major League appearance this year on May 8 against the Colorado Rockies, he played center field and recorded two hits in three at-bats with two runs scored, one walk, and one stolen base.
Throughout his Major League career, Hicklen has participated in ten games with teams including the Kansas City Royals (2022), Milwaukee Brewers (2024), and Tigers (2025).
Hailing from Huntsville, Alabama, Hicklen returns to the Phillies organization after previously being acquired in a trade with Kansas City in August 2023. Initially selected by the Royals in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft from the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Ryan Cusick, aged 25, was claimed off waivers from the Chicago White Sox on June 8 and assigned to the Florida Complex League before being transferred to Lehigh Valley in July where he made six relief appearances. Originally drafted by Atlanta Braves as a first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2021 MLB Draft from Wake Forest University.
