Former local standout excited after signing deal with the Boston Red Sox
Starting in the minor leagues, anyway.
Bickerstaff, who had an outstanding career in crimson and black under Fred Heatherington and his team, signed a free agent deal with the Red Sox earlier this week following the MLB Amateur Draft after four years at Kent State.
“It’s a dream come true, it’s honestly a dream come true for me,” Bickerstaff said about playing pro ball. “I’m excited to get started.
“The dream became real on Tuesday when the Boston Red Sox called me. I didn’t know how the draft was going to go, then I got the call. I’m just really excited.
“It was pretty crazy and unexpected to get the call. I was driving with my dad and the phone rang … all emotions hit at once as soon as I saw my phone ringing. It was awesome.”
Bickerstaff helped Big Red reach the regional tournament multiple times and earned accolades for the storied program in just three years, losing his senior season to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Now his career will continue.
At Big Red, he went a combined 19-4 with a 1.09 ERA from 2017-19, while also batting .343. He was part of a regional championship, three regional appearances, three sectional and district championships, and two OVAC championships. He was also a standout basketball player for Big Red, earning all-state accolades and helping lead a regional run on the hard court as well.
“It was amazing to play at Big Red,” Bickerstaff said, recalling his high school career. “The coaches at Big Red, coach Heatherington, coach (Joe) Pierro, coach (Justin) Banks and all of the coaches were very supportive, and back then I was playing with the kids I grew up with. It was a blast.
“I’ve heard from all my friends, family, coaches, you name it, pretty much everyone I know since signing. The support from home has been amazing.”
He had a career ERA of 4.77 with the Golden Flashes, pitching in three seasons. This past season he became a regular weekend starter for Kent State, setting career highs in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts. He was 4-4 with a rotation-best 5.08 ERA, earning All-MAC conference honors. He had 56 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings.
A stat in particular that set him apart was his walk ratio, walking just 2.1 percent of batters he faced, just five all season, the second-best mark in college baseball.
“It’s been the best four years of my life,” Bickerstaff said of his time at Kent State. “There were a lot of ups and downs, looking back on it I just tried to show up at the field every day with a positive attitude and ready to give it my all. I think that’s the best way to go about anything in life — give it your all, be grateful for the opportunities you’re given, and take advantage of them.
“That’s going to be my mindset going into pro baseball, be grateful to be there every single day and give it all I can for as long as I can.”
For his part, baseball has always been a love and he’s just happy to continue to get to play it.
“My goal is to play this game as long as I possibly can and I’m extremely grateful the Boston Red Sox are giving me this opportunity to keep playing,” he said. “Three years in high school and four years in college just don’t feel like enough, I’m excited to keep playing.”
