Yankees' Aaron Hicks: An option to move back to CF
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Hicks could play some center field for the Yankees following the injury to Harrison Bader (oblique), Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.
Most of Hicks' experience is in center field, of course, but he had been ticketed for left prior to Bader's injury. It's possible he could stay in left field if the Yanks prefer to use Aaron Judge or someone else in center.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Could open 2023 as starter
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Hicks tentatively appears on track to head into spring training as the Yankees' projected starting left fielder, with MLB sources telling Bob Klapisch of the Newark Star-Ledger that New York isn't expected to make any major moves for the rest of the offseason.
Per Laura Albanese of Newsday, general manager Brian Cashman said in early November that Hicks would be back with the Yankees in 2023 but would have to work for his role, so the veteran outfielder still looks as though he'll potentially face competition from Oswaldo Cabrera, Estevan Florial and non-roster invitee Rafael Ortega for a full-time gig ahead of Opening Day. The Yankees' lack of activity in the outfield market this winter is nonetheless a positive development for Hicks, who would have been on the outside looking in for a starting spot had New York not allowed Andrew Benintendi to walk in free agency. Hicks, who is on the books for $29.5 million through 2025, continued his downward trend in production in 2022, slashing .216/.330/.313 with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases across 453 plate appearances. The 33-year-old suffered a left knee injury Oct. 18 that sidelined him for the remainder of the Yankees' postseason run, but after telling reporters at that time that he would require a six-week recovery period, he's likely back to full health at this point.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Done for season
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Hicks (knee) remains without an exact diagnosis but has been ruled out for the rest of the postseason, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Hicks collided with Oswaldo Cabrera in left field while trying to catch a flyball in Game 5 of the ALDS matchup with the Guardians. He underwent a CT scan and MRI, though the exact diagnosis has yet to be disclosed. Hicks told reporters he would need a six-week timeline to recover, so he should be back in plenty of time for spring training. After a rough regular season that resulted in him moving into a bench role by mid-August, Hicks appeared to have recaptured a recaptured everyday playing time in left field during the series with the Yankees. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is now expected to pick up more work at shortstop, while Cabrera likely serves as Hicks' primary replacement in left.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Suffers knee injury
Rotowire
Hicks will undergo an MRI on his left knee Tuesday.
Initially speculated to be a foot/ankle injury, it is now confirmed that Hicks' left knee is what is bothering him after his collision with Oswaldo Cabrera on Tuesday. The MRI will reveal any damage done to his knee and help determine if he will have to miss any time during the ALCS, should the Yankees advance.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Exits Game 5 after collision
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Hicks (foot) was removed from Game 5 of the ALDS against Cleveland after colliding with Oswaldo Cabrera in the third inning, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.
It looks like most of the damage was done to Hicks' ankle/foot, but the specifics and severity of the injury remain unknown. The Yankees will take a closer look and likely provide an update soon. In the meantime, Marwin Gonzalez will enter the game and take Hicks' spot in left field.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: On-base machine Wednesday
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Hicks went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's win over Toronto.
For just the second time this season, Hicks was perfect at the plate, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances. The multi-hit effort was his fourth in his last eight games, a period in which he has improved his season-long slash line from .209/.324/.293 to .224/.334/.324. Despite the hot streak, Hicks should be considered a fringe outfield option in most fantasy leagues to close the season.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Notches two hits in return
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Hicks went 2-for-3 with a home run, two total runs and two total RBI in Friday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox.
Hicks had been dealing with an illness that cost him a few games heading into the contest, but he returned to action Friday as New York's starting left fielder and slotted into the No. 9 slot in the order. He put the Yankees on the board in the third inning with a solo homer and then gave the team its first lead with a run-scoring single in the fifth. Though Hicks has had a tough season overall and has heard boos from Yankees fans of late, he may be starting to put things together at the plate. Over his past four games, the veteran has gone 7-for-15 with two homers, three RBI, five runs and a stolen base.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Rejoins lineup Friday
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Hicks (illness) is starting in left field and batting ninth Friday against the Red Sox.
Hicks has been feeling under the weather and hasn't seen the field since Sept. 18, but he's back in the lineup for Friday's contest. The veteran outfielder has a .588 OPS in September, though he's gone 5-for-12 with a home run, a double and three runs in his last three games.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Managing illness
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Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Hicks is feeling under the weather, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Hicks is on the bench for the sixth time in the last nine games Wednesday, and it's possible that the team avoids using him off the bench for the series finale against the Pirates due to his illness. Oswaldo Cabrera has served as the Yankees' primary left fielder recently.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Sits in third straight
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Hicks is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Boston, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Hicks has not seen the field since Friday when he left the game early due to a poor defensive performance. In Hicks' absence, Miguel Andujar will make his thrid straight start in left field.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Held out of lineup again
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Hicks is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
Sunday's game will be the second the Yankees have played since Hicks was pulled from Friday's contest following a pair of mishaps in the field, and it will also be the second Hicks has opened on the bench. As was the case Saturday, Miguel Andujar will get the nod in left field.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Riding pine Saturday
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Hicks isn't starting Saturday against the Rays, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Hicks has hit just .125 with two doubles, three RBI, a walk and eight strikeouts over eight games since the start of September. He went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and made two defensive miscues before he was pulled early in Friday's 4-2 loss, so it doesn't come as a major surprise that he'll hit the bench after three straight starts. Miguel Andujar is starting in left field and batting sixth.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Takes seat for matinee
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Hicks isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.
Hicks has gone 2-for-13 with an RBI, a walk and four strikeouts over his last five games and will head to the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Miguel Andujar is starting in left field and batting fifth.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Back on bench Monday
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Hicks is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.
After appearing in only four of the Yankees' final 13 games of August, Hicks picked up four consecutive starts in the wake of Andrew Benintendi (wrist) landing on the injured list. Hicks went just 2-for-12 with one walk over those four starts, and his unpalatable .214/.332/.297 slash line on the season means he'll likely have a short leash on an everyday role even though the Yankees' alternative options are uninspiring. Tim Locastro will replace Hicks in the outfield Monday, and Estevan Florial and Marwin Gonzalez are other candidates to pick up more work while Benintendi is on the shelf.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Opportunities pick back up
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Hicks will start in left field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Rays, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Hicks was phased out of an everyday role in August amid his season-long struggles at the plate, but Andrew Benintendi's (wrist) recent move to the injured list has reopened playing time for the 32-year-old. He'll stick in the Yankees outfield for the fourth game in a row after going 2-for-8 with a walk and an RBI over the prior three contests.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Loses hold of everyday role
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Hicks is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.
Now on the bench for the third straight contest and the fourth time in five games, Hicks appears to have faded into a fourth-outfielder role after slashing a dismal .158/.264/.158 over 24 games since the All-Star break. The Yankees will give Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre call-up Estevan Florial a second straight start in center field Thursday. Florial looks like he'll get the opportunity to prove he's worthy of an everyday role, at least until the Yankees get Harrison Bader (foot) back from the injured list in September.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Still not starting
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Hicks isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.
Hicks has gone 0-for-7 with four strikeouts over his last four matchups and will take a seat for the third time in the last four games. Estevan Florial will take over in center field and bat eighth.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Takes seat Tuesday
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Hicks is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Hicks will sit for the second time in three days while the Yankees roll out an outfield of Andrew Benintendi, Aaron Judge and Marwin Gonzalez from left to right. Dating back to July 28, Hicks has gone 5-for-53 (.094 average) with no extra-base hits over a stretch of 16 games. He could be in danger of falling into more of a part-time role by the time Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles) is ready to return from the injured list later this month.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Hicks is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Hicks has a .355 OPS through 11 games in August and will take a seat for Sunday's contest. Tim Locastro will enter the lineup in center field for the series finale.
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Yankees' Aaron Hicks: Three hits in loss
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Hicks went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 12-9 loss against the Cardinals.
Hicks broke out of an 0-for-29 slump with three hits Sunday but is still slashing a meager .226/.347/.319. Due to the poor health of the New York outfield and previous struggles of the recently traded Joey Gallo, Hicks has earned mostly everyday playing time this season, but with the recent acquisitions of Harrison Bader and Andrew Benintendi, Hicks will need to continue to hit if he is to stay in the lineup come September.
