Hicks back after Frazier is injured
TORONTO — Aaron Hicks is back. The Yankees Thursday placed Clint Frazier on the 10-day disabled list with a “mild” left oblique strain, clearing the way for Hicks to return a day earlier than expected. Frazier’s DL stint is retroactive to Aug. 9.
Hicks batted second and played left field on Thursday night against the Blue Jays. He went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in his team’s 4-0 loss.
“It feels really good to be back,” Hicks said. “I’m ready to go out there and battle and do what I can to help this team win.”
Hicks (oblique) last played for the Yankees on June 25. He has been on the DL ever since. The 27-year-old outfielder homered during a minor-league rehab game with Double-A Trenton on Wednesday.
“I think your hope is he can pick up where he left off,” Joe Girardi said. “I’m going to move him around (the outfield) and play a lot.”
Girardi believes Frazier’s oblique injury is of a lesser degree than Hicks’. Frazier is seeing team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad on Friday. He won’t be able to swing a bat for a week.
“It’s disappointing,” Frazier said.
Frazier is in a 5-for-33 slump after getting off to a hot start following his July 1 call-up. The 22-year-old outfielder has a .751 OPS, 17 RBI and 15 extra-base hits.
He started experiencing discomfort in his oblique on Saturday in Cleveland. He was a late scratch from the lineup on Wednesday night in Toronto. Hicks has a .913 OPS and 10 homers in 60 games. Jaime Garcia (5-8, 4.49) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 4.08) YES Luis Severino (9-4, 2.91) vs. Drew Pomeranz (11-4, 3.36) YES, FS1 Chris Sale (14-4, 2.57) ) vs. Jordan Montgomery 97-6, 4.02) ESPN