The Hagerstown Flying Boxcars traded the Atlantic League pitching leader in strikeouts to the York Revolution in exchange for the league leader in batting.
The Hagerstown Flying Boxcars have traded one of the best pitchers in the Atlantic League for one of the top hitters.
The Boxcars announced Aug. 1 that they're sending left-handed starter Mike Kickham to the York Revolution in exchange for outfielder Marty Costes and a player to be named later.
Costes, 29, is batting a league-high .341 this season with nine home runs, one triple, 16 doubles, 44 RBIs, six stolen bases and 35 runs scored. He has more walks (30) than strikeouts (24).
Costes, a Baltimore native, played for Archbishop Curley High School and the University of Maryland before being drafted by the Houston Astros in the 22nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He played six seasons in the minors for the Astros and Miami Marlins, including at the Triple-A level the last four years.
Kickham, 36, who'd been with the Boxcars since Day 1 of their inaugural season in 2024, has a league-leading 98 strikeouts this year and was named the Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month for June.
On June 14, he became the sixth pitcher in the 27-year history of the league to record an individual, nine-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Staten Island FerryHawks.
Kickham now will pitch for the Revolution, the reigning league champions, who clinched their spot in the 2025 playoffs by winning the North Division first-half title.
Costes will join a Boxcars lineup that needs a jolt. Hagerstown ranks last in the league in nearly every offensive category.
The Boxcars are 5-16 in the second half of the season and 19-65 overall, on track to finish with the worst record in the league for the second straight year.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Boxcars trade ace pitcher Mike Kickham to York for top hitter Marty Costes
Category: General Sports
