Rehabbing Hicks back in Tampa taking batting practice
TAMPA — Aaron Hicks may be ready after all. The Yankees center fielder was expected to miss at least half the season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on October. Wednesday night, however, the switch hitter posted video of himself taking batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
So, the Yankees could have the starting center fielder they had signed to a seven-year, $70 million deal last spring if there is a 2020 season. While MLB and the union seemed to be inching towards an agreement on how to restart baseball after a 12week coronavirus shut down, about a dozen Yankees continue to work out in Tampa.
Hicks, however, is a new addition to that group. He had initially returned to his home in Arizona to continue his rehab from surgery and wait for the birth of his second child, but has returned recently. Just a month ago, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said that Hicks just begun taking dry swings.
That he’s progressed to batting practice is another good sign for the Yankees. About the only good thing to come from this shut down for the Yankees — and all teams — is that the pause in the regular season has allowed players to get healthy. James Paxton, who had back surgery at the beginning of February and was expected to miss at least the first six weeks of the season, has advanced to throwing simulated innings and is expected to be ready to go at the beginning of any season. Giancarlo Stanton, who suffered a strained right calf, was also declared “good to go” by Yankees manager Aaron Boone last month.
The only question among the Yankees spring training injured list is Aaron Judge. As of late last month, the Yankees slugger was still rehabbing a fractured right rib and was not swinging a bat.
But the Yankees will be well covered in the outfield if and when a season starts. The Yankees brought back the 36year-old Brett Gardner, off a career year in 2019, because of concerns about Hicks missing time. They have Mike Tauchman, who proved to be an excellent defensive outfielder and a decent bat, and are looking to use Miguel Andujar in the outfield as well. With an expanded roster they will also have Clint Frazier.
But Hicks is not only one of the better center fielders in the game, but as a switch hitter, one of the few left-handed threats that have. That is why the Yankees did not let him get away last year, signing him to a long-term deal before he became a free agent.
In 2018, Hicks hit .248/ .366/.467 last season with 27 home runs and 79 RBI. He set career-highs in runs scored (90), hits (119), extra-base hits (48), RBI and walks (90). He also set a career high with a 4.9
WAR, which was third among all center fielders.
The Yankees also knew the risks when they extended him.
They had acquired Hicks from the Twins, who had drafted him 14th overall in the 2008 draft, in a November 2015 deal straight up for catcher John Ryan Murphy in part because of the Twins frustration that Hicks struggled to stay on the field.
Over the years, Hicks has missed time with injuries to both hamstrings, an oblique injury and an intercostal injury in his time with the Yankees. Two seasons ago was the first that Hicks played in more than 125 games.
Last season, Hicks played in just 59 regular season games, batting .235 with 12 homers, 36 RBI and a .769 OPS before his flexor tendon gave way. He began the 2019 season on the injured list with a lower back strain and then was shut down with the elbow injury.