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Aaron Hicks

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Aaron Hicks
Hicks with the New York Yankees in 2016
Los Angeles Angels – No. 12
Outfielder
Born: (1989-10-02) October 2, 1989 (age 35)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 1, 2013, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.233
Home runs108
Runs batted in387
Teams

Aaron Michael Hicks (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.

Hicks was drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Twins and was traded to the Yankees after the 2015 season. The Yankees released Hicks during the 2023 season and he signed with the Orioles.

Early life

Hicks grew up in Long Beach, California, attending Woodrow Wilson Classical High School, where he was a star baseball player.[1] He also attended Major League Baseball's (MLB) Urban Youth Academy, designed to promote baseball in urban areas.[1]

Career

Minor leagues

A switch hitter, Aaron was drafted by Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft out of Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California.[2] In his first professional season, Hicks was tabbed a 2008 Baseball America Rookie All-Star and named the top prospect in the Twins' organization. He batted .318 with four home runs, 27 runs batted in, twelve stolen bases and 28 walks for the Gulf Coast League Twins to earn a Gulf Coast League postseason All-Star nod. In 2009, Hicks batted .251 with four home runs, 29 RBIs, ten steals and 40 walks for the Beloit Snappers. He returned to Beloit in 2010 and hit .279 with eight home runs.

Playing for the Fort Myers Miracle in 2011, he hit .242 with five home runs. In 2012, he hit .286 with 13 home runs for the New Britain Rock Cats. After being sent down from the major leagues in August, for the 2013 season in AAA he batted .222 with the Rochester Red Wings.[3]

Aaron was a top 100 prospect by Baseball America four times.[4][5][6][7]

Minnesota Twins (2013–2015)

Hicks with the Minnesota Twins in 2013

On March 24, 2013, it was announced that Hicks would be the starting center fielder for the Minnesota Twins. He chose his new number to honor Dave Winfield, who wore 32 for the Twins.[8] He was sent down to AAA on August 1, and was not called back up in 2013.[9][10]

In 2013, Hicks batted .192 in 281 at bats, with a .259 on-base percentage.[10][11] Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune wrote that he became: "the latest unpaid spokesman for the Public Service Announcement that reminds baseball fans not to believe anything they see in spring training."[12]

Despite his underwhelming 2013 performance, Hicks was named the starting center fielder for the 2014 season. Hicks' 2014 season did not show improvement at the plate. Through 47 games, Hicks hit .201 and was demoted to Double A on June 9.[13]

Hicks gave up switch hitting during the 2014 season due to a lack of confidence in his ability to bat left-handed.[14] However, he went back to switch hitting less than a month later.[15]

For the 2015 season, Hicks hit .256 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 97 games.

New York Yankees (2016–2023)

2016–2018

On November 11, 2015, the Twins traded Hicks to the New York Yankees for John Ryan Murphy.[16] The Yankees targeted Hicks due to his athleticism, strong throwing arm, and ability to hit left-handed pitching.[17]

During a game against the Oakland Athletics on April 20, 2016, Hicks made a throw that nabbed Danny Valencia at home plate for an out. The throw was recorded at 105.5 miles per hour (169.8 km/h), the fastest throwing speed recorded by Statcast.[18] In 123 games of 2016, Hicks batted .217 with eight home runs and 31 RBI.

In early June 2017, with just 154 at bats, Hicks had already hit more home runs (10) and RBIs (34) than in all of last season. As of June 9 he ranked seventh in the majors in both OBP and OPS.[19][20] On April 13, 2017, Hicks hit two home runs; one batting left handed and one batting right handed. He drove in all three runs as the Yankees won 3–2 over the Tampa Bay Rays.[21] Hicks suffered an oblique injury in late June, causing him to go on the 10-day disabled list.[22] On September 3, Hicks was again placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a left oblique injury.[23] He returned from the DL on September 26. Hicks ended the season with 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .266 average, all career highs.[24]

On March 30, 2018, the Yankees placed Hicks on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right intercostal muscle.[25] He was reinstated from the DL on April 12 and hit an inside-the-park home run against the Detroit Tigers on the next day. Hicks would hit another inside-the-park-home run against the Kansas City Royals on May 19, becoming the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle in 1958 to hit two inside-the-park-home runs in a single season. On July 1, Hicks hit three home runs in one game against the Boston Red Sox.[26] Hicks ended the season with 27 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 119 hits, all career highs.[24]

2019–2023

Hicks in 2018

On January 11, 2019, Hicks signed a one-year, $6 million contract to remain with the Yankees. On February 25, Hicks signed a seven-year, $70 million contract extension, replacing the one-year deal. The deal includes a $12.5 million club option for 2026, a $1 million buyout and a $2 million signing bonus.[27] He began the 2019 year on the 10-day injured list due to a lower back strain. On May 6, he was optioned to the Tampa Tarpons for a rehab assignment. On June 24, against the Toronto Blue Jays, Hicks hit a home run that helped the Yankees tie a league record with 27 straight games hitting a home run. On June 29, 2019, Hicks became the first MLB player to hit a home run in Europe during the first inning of the Red Sox-Yankees 2019 London Series. On September 10, Hicks left the game with an elbow injury. It was revealed that Hicks was diagnosed with a right flexor strain in his right elbow since August 3, and that Tommy John surgery would be necessary to correct the problem. The Yankees ruled Hicks out for the rest of 2019 due to his elbow injury.

On October 11, 2019, Aaron Hicks told a New York Post reporter that he would be on the ALCS roster against the Houston Astros. The following day, the Yankees announced that they had reinstated Hicks from the 60-day injured list and added him to the roster, replacing Luke Voit. He revealed that after his Tommy John surgery recommendation, he had decided not to have surgery immediately and engaged in light physical activity on his own. After a week, he visited the Yankees' spring training complex to work out his elbow. Following a few weeks of regular exercise, it was determined that he would not in fact require surgery and he joined his team on the road in Houston. He later underwent the surgery, and was expected to miss 8–10 months.[28]

With COVID-19 pandemic delaying the start of the season by over four months, Hicks was able to return to play in the intra-squad scrimmage match just eight months post surgery.[29] In 54 games, Hicks batted .225 with six home runs and 21 RBIs.[30]

On May 21, 2021, Hicks underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, which was expected to end his season.[31] On May 30, Hicks was placed on the 60-day injured list.[32] In 32 games for the Yankees, Hicks posted a .194/.294/.333 batting line with 4 home runs and 14 RBIs.

On July 6, 2022, Hicks hit his first career grand slam while pinch hitting for Matt Carpenter as part of a 16–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fellow outfielder Aaron Judge, whom Hicks eventually replaced in center field, had hit a grand slam earlier that night, making the pair the first two players with the same first name to hit grand slams in the same game. On September 23, Hicks hit a 405–foot home run off of Rich Hill of the Boston Red Sox for his 100th career home run.[33] In 2022, Hicks batted .216/.330/.313 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs.[34]

Oswaldo Cabrera began the 2023 season for the Yankees as their starting left fielder, with Hicks on the bench.[35] Hicks played in 28 games for the Yankees, batting .188/.263/.261 with one home run and five RBI. On May 20, 2023, Hicks was designated for assignment after Greg Allen was added to the roster.[36] The Yankees released Hicks on May 26.[37]

Baltimore Orioles (2023)

On May 30, 2023, Hicks signed a one-year, major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles following an injury to Cedric Mullins.[38] His $483,871 Orioles salary is a prorated share of the $720,000 MLB minimum.[39] He had a four RBI game which included a first-inning three-run homer off Tyler Glasnow in an 8–6 away win over the Rays on June 20.[40] He responded to a hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium with a fifth-inning one-out solo homer to right off Clarke Schmidt in an 8–4 loss in his second game against his previous team on July 4.[39] He battled hamstring and lower back injury in July and August,[41] but returned in time for the team's final regular season stretch to the postseason. In the American League Division Series Game 2, Hicks delivered the Orioles' only lead of the postseason with a 2-run single in the first inning against the Texas Rangers.[42] He ended the postseason series with 1 HR, 5 RBIs, and 1.025 OPS. In the regular season with the Orioles, he played primarily left and right field or served as the designated hitter. He stole 6 bases, and appeared in 236 at-bats, hitting 7 homeruns and slashing .275/.381/.425 with an OPS of .806. [43] He became a free agent following the season.

Los Angeles Angels (2024–present)

On January 29, 2024, the Los Angeles Angels agreed to terms with Hicks on a one-year deal worth the league minimum of $740,000.[44]

Personal life

Hicks' father, Joseph, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12th round of the 1975 amateur draft, but his career was ended early by an eye injury. This led Joseph to push his son into golf before baseball.[1] Hicks is an accomplished golfer, having competed in numerous youth golf tournaments.[1] After making baseball his focus, he has continued to play golf and played in a PGA Tour event in 2019.

On October 27, 2021, Hicks got engaged to professional golfer Cheyenne Woods.[45] They married in February 2022,[46] and their son was born in April 2022.[47] They reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.[48]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Hicks Following in Father's Footsteps". MiLB.com.
  2. ^ "Twins select best talent with picks". Minnesota.twins.mlb.com. March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Aaron Hicks Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "Where The Top 100 Are". Baseballamerica.com. April 9, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Prospects: No. 1-20". Baseballamerica.com. February 23, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "2011 Top 100 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. February 23, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "2013 Top 100 Prospects". Baseballamerica.com. February 19, 2013. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Berardino, Mike (April 1, 2013). "Minnesota Twins: Aaron Hicks picks 32 for Dave Winfield, dad and more". Twincities.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Twinsights: Aaron Hicks played Saturday 'in a fog,' Gardy says". twincities.com. April 20, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Aaron Hicks gets another shot". March 27, 2014. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "Aaron Hicks Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "Souhan: After 2013 disaster, Hicks shows signs of fulfilling promise". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  13. ^ "Twins demote starting center fielder Aaron Hicks to Double-A". HardballTalk. June 25, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "Aaron Hicks will stop switch-hitting due to lack of confidence as lefty - CBSSports.com". www.cbssports.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  15. ^ "Updated Twinsights: Aaron Hicks returns to switch-hitting". TwinCities.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "Twins trade OF Aaron Hicks to Yankees for C John Ryan Murphy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. ^ Harper, John (February 10, 2016). "GM Brian Cashman takes the Daily News inside the Yankees' offseason trades". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  18. ^ de Beaumont, Vanessa. "Yankees' Aaron Hicks Unloads Record-Breaking 105 MPH Throw for Run-Saving Out". bleacherreport.com/. Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  19. ^ King III, George A. (June 10, 2017). "Aaron Hicks provides power as Yankees roll to third straight win". New York Post. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  20. ^ "2017 Regular Season MLB Baseball Batting Statistics and League Leaders". espn.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  21. ^ Hoch, Bryan. "Aaron Hicks homers from both sides as Yankees complete sweep of Rays". MLB. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  22. ^ Calcaterra, Craig (June 25, 2017). "Aaron Hicks to go on the disabled list with an oblique injury – HardballTalk". Mlb.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  23. ^ "Aaron Hicks lands on 10-day DL with oblique strain". NY Daily News. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Aaron Hicks » Statistics » Batting | FanGraphs Baseball". Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  25. ^ "Aaron Hicks goes on 10-day DL". MLB. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  26. ^ "Red Sox vs. Yankees - Box Score - July 1, 2018". espn.com. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  27. ^ Hoch, Bryan (February 25, 2019). "Hicks signs 7-year extension with Yankees". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  28. ^ "When to Expect Aaron Hicks' Return From Tommy John Surgery". SI.com. March 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Aaron Hicks (elbow) hits leadoff in intrasquad game". FantasyPros. July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "Aaron Hicks Stats". baseball-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  31. ^ "Hicks' wrist surgery could sideline him for '21". MLB.com.
  32. ^ "Yankees Select Nestor Cortes Jr". May 30, 2021.
  33. ^ "Staying Ready, Yankees' Aaron Hicks Takes Advantage of Opportunity". si.com. September 24, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  34. ^ "Aaron Hicks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  35. ^ Sanchez, Mark W. (April 1, 2023). "Yankees' Aaron Boone: Oswaldo Cabrera 'earned' start over Aaron Hicks". New York Post. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  36. ^ "Yankees DFA longtime OF Aaron Hicks, add OF Greg Allen". ESPN.com. May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  37. ^ "Aaron Hicks released by Yankees, who owed outfielder $27.6 million". AP News. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  38. ^ "O's sign former Yankee Hicks, place Mullins on IL". MLB.com.
  39. ^ a b Fleisher, Larry. "Orioles’ Hicks answers expected boos in the Bronx with HR in 2nd game back against Yankees," The Associated Press, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  40. ^ "Aaron Hicks drives in 4 runs as the Orioles hold on to beat the AL East-leading Rays," The Associated Press, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  41. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Activate Veteran Outfielder Aaron Hicks Off of Injured List". August 14, 2023.
  42. ^ "Field view of Hicks' 2-run single".
  43. ^ "Aaron Hicks Regular Season On Orioles Stats".
  44. ^ "Angels agree to deal with OF Aaron Hicks". January 29, 2024.
  45. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (October 29, 2021). "Golfer Cheyenne Woods Engaged to New York Yankees Player Aaron Hicks: Forever with My Best Friend'". people.com.
  46. ^ "Cheyenne Woods marries Aaron Hicks". Women & Golf. February 10, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  47. ^ Ackert, Kristie (April 29, 2022). "Aaron Hicks back with team after birth of his son". New York Daily News. Closed access icon (subscription required)
  48. ^ "The Arizona Republic".
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