Meet a Prospect: Aaron Hicks

The New York Yankees acquired switch hitting outfielder Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins this week for their backup catcher John Ryan Murphy. Hicks is another young and exciting player being added to the Yankees roster while it opens the door for Gary Sanchez to fill the role of backup catcher. Hicks will likely be placed on the Yankees bench filling the role of Chris Young, barring a Brett Gardner trade to the Seattle Mariners or another team, so let’s take the time now to meet him. Meet a Prospect, Mr. Aaron Hicks.

Aaron M. Hicks was born on October 2, 1989 and spent his High School years at Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California. While playing on the West Coast he caught the eye of the Minnesota Twins for his play in the outfield and the team drafted him in the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft in the first round. Hicks, a switch hitter and center fielder in High School, was named Baseball America’s 2008 Rookie All-Star and was immediately named the Twins top prospect in his first professional season.

Hicks followed up his first professional season with another strong sophomore season and an even stronger junior season as his RBI totals and home run numbers continued to grow. Hicks was named one of Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects lists four times before being named the team’s starting center fielder before the 2013 season. Hicks chose #32 to honor a former member of the Yankees, Dave Winfield, and stayed with the club until August 1 when he was sent back to the minor leagues for the remainder of the season. Hicks finished the 2013 season with a .192 average in 281 at bats with a .259 on-base percentage.

Hicks was once again the team’s starting center fielder before the 2014 season but his bat once again did not show improvement. Through the first 47 games of the 2014 season Hicks hit just .201 and was demoted back to Double-A on June 9^th of 2014. Hicks began to come into his own during the 2015 season though as he slashed .256/.323/.398 while hitting 11 home runs and knocking in 33 RBI in 97 games. Hicks finally started to show off the speed, defense, versatility and offensive prowess that got him drafted in the first round by Minnesota during the 2015 season and will look to keep that going on for the 2016 season with the New York Yankees.

Welcome to the family Aaron.