The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Hicks might be the first player to get Tommy John surgery and not miss a single game
NEW YORK — Tommy John rehab is notoriously long, tedious and difficult. It’s nothing compared to rehabbing during a pandemic while having a child. Aaron Hicks was back on the field for the spring training reboot this weekend, ready to begin the coronavirus pandemicshortened season with his teammates.
It’s been a journey from his October Tommy John procedure to getting back to playing, which included having his second son, Jaylen, in May.
“When it comes to stuff like that, me going into my workouts in the offseason and me working out at gyms it becomes tough, because I have to be aware of what I’m doing, and try to be as safe as possible so that none of them get sick or I don’t get sick,” Hicks said.
“I think it was like a couple months ago where Arizona started to open up and you know they’re able to see their grandparents and stuff like that. So it’s just hard to kind of balance going to the field and working out and being cautious with what I’m doing. You know, it’s kind of tough.”
The Yankees had their first official training camp workout Saturday after a three-month hiatus as the coronavirus ravaged the nation.
The virus, which has killed over 132,000 Americans and sent the economy into a spiral, has created a new normal in baseball. Players worked out on the field while the coaching staff around them wore masks. Everyone kept their distance and the groups of 60 eligible players were
staggered throughout the day.
The one good thing the pandemic did for Hicks, however, was give him time. He may become the first player not to miss a game after Tommy John surgery.
He called himself “gameready,” if not 100%.
“From what I hear, it takes a while, you know, to be completely 100%. But I feel really good right now,” Hicks said. “I am gameready right now to be able to compete and be able to consistently be out there in the outfield to play good defense and try to help my team win.”
Hicks said the hitting is coming back quicker and he is waiting for his throwing to become more consistent. That will be the one thing that will tell him he is 100%.
“I am looking for more being able to throw the ball and add more velocity. Right now, it’s just kind of, some come out, some don’t,” Hicks said. “It’s just consistent with throwing you know when you don’t have to worry if it always comes out the same. When you are coming back from Tommy John, there’s just days where it just doesn’t come out. You try and sell as hard as you can, you’re trying to throw to a certain speed and it’s just not, it’s not coming out. So, from what I hear, it’s pretty normal throughout the process. But I’m going to continue to try to grind it out and do the best I can.”
Hicks took advantage of the three-month hiatus to do more than rehab.
“I feel like this is giving me time to be with my family and watch my kids grow,” Hicks said.
“And as far as, be able to relax, also being at home, go there, do my rehab stuff and then come home. Obviously it sucks we haven’t been able to have baseball and it’s a tough time for us as a people to deal with this COVID stuff, but I think for me it’s just been able to just give me time to be able to hang out with my kids.”