Hicks nearing return from DL

Help may be on the way for the suddenly depleted Yankees’ outfield. Aaron Hicks, who is currently on the 10day disabled list with a Grade 1 strain of his intercostal muscle, feels “really good” about returning to the team as soon as he is eligible, which would be Tuesday in Boston.

“It went well,” Hicks said of hitting off a tee on Tuesday. “I did 15 swings on both sides and today I’m doing the tee and front toss. I feel really good.”

Skipper Aaron Boone said that while the Yankees could really use Hicks in the lineup with Billy McKinney (left AC shoulder sprain), Clint Frazier (concussion), and Jacoby Ellsbury (right oblique strain) all on the DL, the switch-hitting centerfielder will not be rushed back.

“The urgency is there because of that (depleted outfield), but we’re not going to expedite to expedite,” Boone said. “We want to feel really good about him being healthy.”

That urgency has been made more severe after Ellsbury, who appeared close to returning, suffered yet another setback in his rehab on Tuesday with a hip injury.

“I don’t know,” Boone said of Ellsbury’s timeline to return. “He’s getting treatment today. No baseball activity though. Hopefully that does start to ramp up and happen again in the coming days but for right now, he’s not.”

Trayce Thompson, the brother of Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, whom the Yankees claimed off waivers this week, is currently with Triple-A Scranton but may be called up soon to help the Bombers’ outfield depth.

WARREN BACK IN PEN

Adam Warren returned on Wednesday, recording two outs (one strikeout) and giving up a hit in the eighth.

The reliever, who was struck in the right ankle by a line drive on Opening Day and had not pitched since, threw some pitches in the bullpen at the end of Tuesday’s game and “felt fine,” according to Boone.

OFF CHANCE

Chance Adams told reporters in Scranton that he pitched through bone spurs in his elbow at the end of last season, which he got cleaned up in the offseason. Adams, who will start in Triple-A, had a disappointing spring, though he said he was still building up his arm strength. Justus Sheffield will start the 2018 campaign in Double-A Trenton.

NO HERO’S WELCOME

Boone was fine with not receiving a grand welcome at Yankee Stadium in his first home game as manager on Tuesday.

“It was good being in Yankee Stadium, even on a crappy night weather-wise,” he said. “To feel the energy in the building was pretty cool. I didn’t need to be out there on the field in that weather last night. I was good there in the dugout.”

What matters most to Boone is that the Yankees won.

“The fact that we were able to get that in and get a victory against their ace. … It definitely made for a more fun evening.”