Aaron Hicks

Had the 2020 season started on time, Hicks' rehab from Tommy John surgery would likely have pushed his debut to right around the All-Star break. With the delay, he was the Yankees' Opening Day center fielder. Hicks went on to play 54 games, but it was revealed after the season his arm never felt right and he had to shorten his swing. The result was hitting fewer flyballs along with a lower HR/FB, dampening power. On the plus side, Hicks' already-patient approach improved even more as he walked a career-high 19.4% of the time while fanning at an 18.0% clip, his lowest level since 2015. It's unclear if Hicks' elbow will return to normal, enabling him to revert to his former swing. Regardless, Hicks' lack of durability has always limited his appeal in mixed formats.

The oft-injured Hicks opened the 2019 campaign on the IL with back woes, debuting with the club in mid-May. In early August, Hicks was sidelined with a right flexor strain, missing the rest of the season, though he returned for the playoffs. It turned out Hicks needed Tommy John surgery, performed in late October. Barring a setback, the expectation is for an August return. In between IL stints, Hicks' numbers were underwhelming as his K% ballooned to a career-worst 28% while his BB% dropped to 12.2%, a couple ticks lower than the past couple of seasons. Hicks attempted only three steals, with just one successful try. His power was on par with recent numbers, but more strikeouts reduced the balls in play. It's unclear what Hicks' role will be after returning. He should be ignored on draft day, unless you can stash him on IL in deep leagues since it's not worth tying up a reserve spot.

Hicks remained healthy and saw the most playing time of his career in 2018, not only clearing 400 PA for the first time but pushing up close to 600 PA while batting mostly in the top third of the Yankees' order. Hicks hits for a better average from the left side of the plate, but is by no means a slouch as a righty -- his offensive production has been above league average in four of the past five seasons. Hicks has taken to hitting in Yankee Stadium as he has 27 of his 42 homers over the past two seasons at home. He has turned himself into a very patient hitter that earns a high share of walks (15.5 BB% in 2018) and that has led to strong on-base percentages the past two seasons. He has maintained a slightly-better-than-average contact rate as he has increased his power production over the past few seasons and should maintain an everyday job in a loaded lineup. Double-digit steals are the cherry on top.

The Yankees deserve a lot of credit; not only for trading for Hicks, but for being patient with him after an ugly first season in pinstripes. Hicks tooks a massive step forward in 2017, offensively, boosting his wOBA 93 points while nearly doubling his wRC+ (from 64 to 127). He walked at an excellent 14.1 percent clip (up from 8.3 percent), maintained a manageable strikeout rate (18.6 percent) and tapped into more power than ever. Sure, the new ball helped him, as did the dimensions at Yankee Stadium (12 of 15 homers at home), but neither of those factors figure to change in 2018. The team has already thrown its weight behind Hicks, tabbing him as an everyday starter over Jacoby Ellsbury. Playing-time concerns remain given his injury history -- Hicks made two separate trips to the DL in 2017 due to oblique issues -- but there is upside here at a relatively cheap price.

Brought on as a possible small-side platoon option in the outfield, Hicks started nearly every game against left-handed pitching in his first year in the Bronx. But after hitting .307 with an OPS of .870 against southpaws in 2015, the 27-year-old struggled tremendously against lefties in 2016 to the tune of a lowly .161/.213/.271 slash line. Although the switch-hitter was better against righties, he managed just a .217 average overall. The outfielder maintained a low .251 BABIP, so poor luck may have been partly to blame, and seven of his eight home runs came at Yankee Stadium, indicating he might be able to take advantage of the hitter-friendly home field going forward. It was frustrating for Hicks to take a step back last season following the best campaign of his career in 2015, but he's still just 27 and will likely be given the chance to win a platoon role again in 2017.

Hicks finally turned the corner last season and flashed the skills of a future regular. The Twins sent him back to Triple-A at the end of spring training last season before he was called up in May and didn't show much (.594 OPS), then landing on the DL in June with a forearm strain. When he returned from the DL in July, something finally clicked as he hit 10 home runs with a .766 OPS over the rest of the season. Hicks has always been an asset with his glove in the outfield, where he was an above average center fielder by most defensive metrics. He also has a strong arm that makes him capable of playing right field effectively. Hicks struggled with a .596 OPS vs. righties last season and has a large platoon split in his career, so he may be limited to a platoon role. He was traded to the Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy in the offseason. Hicks will add fantasy value with his speed on the basepaths as he had 13 stolen bases last season.

Hicks struggled in the majors for a second consecutive season and it's not clear if the former top prospect will fit in the team's plans for 2015. He won the starting center field job last season with a strong spring training, but struggled the first two months with just a .567 OPS. He got so frustrated that he tried to change his approach at the plate in May by quitting switch hitting and hitting only from the right side. He then missed time with a shoulder injury and was sent to Double-A to try and regroup. He began switch hitting again and hit .297 with a .870 OPS at Double-A. However, he hit just .250 with a .648 OPS when called up to the majors in September. Hicks has a strong all-around skill set if he can finally find his footing in the majors. He has good range in the outfield with a strong arm, adds speed on the basepaths, draws walks and has shown he can hit the long ball at times in the minors and spring training. Hicks' major liability is that he's too passive at the plate and fails to make good contact on balls in the strike zone. He also struggles against right-handed pitchers with a career .548 OPS against righties in the majors. Despite his trials, Hicks could win a starting job in the outfield again this spring or stay on the major league roster as a reserve outfielder. More likely, he begins the season in Triple-A and tries to prove he's the everyday player the Twins expected him to become after investing a first-round pick in Hicks in 2008.

Hicks entered last season as one of Minnesota's top outfield prospects and surprisingly won the starting center field job after an impressive spring training performance (he hit .370 and had a three-homer game) – moving from Double-A to the majors. However, Hicks struggled in his first exposure to the majors by hitting .192/.259/.338 before he was sent to Triple-A in August. He then struggled in the minors with heel and wrist injuries, hitting just .222 and wasn't recalled in September. Hicks had shown great plate discipline and defense, along with improving power in the minors, but almost all of those traits were absent in the majors. There is some hope he'll rebound as Hicks has had a pattern of struggling in his first exposure to each level after being promoted in the minors and he did have eight homers and nine steals despite the disappointing results. Hicks' speed could make him valuable for fantasy purposes even if he disappoints elsewhere. He'll likely begin the season at Triple-A, but should get another chance at the starting center field job at some point during the season. He'll need to improve as his window to win a regular outfield job may be small with Byron Buxton and several top outfield prospects nearly ready for the majors.

The 2008 first-round pick had shown different elements of his all-around talent during his minor league career, but had not put it all together until last season. Hicks always had great plate discipline and defense, but he finally added power last season and has improved his platoon splits (.811 OPS vs. LH, .859 OPS vs. RH) as the switch hitter previously struggled against righties. His 32 stolen bases show he could be a five-category player some day in the majors. With the trades of Denard Span and Ben Revere, Hicks will be given a shot at the starting center field job in spring training. He will likely begin this season at Triple-A, but he could be a starter in the majors at some point in 2013.

Hicks, the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, has all the tools the scouts love and the patience at the plate stat heads love, but his prospect stock is slipping since he's never put it all together on the field. Hicks hit a lackluster .242/.354/.368 with just five home runs at High-A Fort Myers. He then started off slow in the Arizona Fall League, but finished strong to hit .294/.400/.559 with three home runs in 30 games. His lack of power at High-A is a worry, but he's seen as a five-tool player with great plate discipline and a strong arm and good range in the outfield. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A New Britain. Hicks faces a critical season at age 22, as a breakout year could put him in Minnesota's plans as early as 2013, but another lackluster one could stall his career in the high minors.

Hicks, the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, improved from a disappointing 2009 season, but failed to put up the kind of numbers expected from a top prospect. He got off to a slow start a Low-A Beloit, bothered briefly by a wrist injury, hitting just .256/.378/.403 in the first half. He improved in the second half by hitting .308/.429/.459. He also had a large platoon split (1.113 OPS vs lefties, .722 OPS vs. righties) which could limit him at higher levels. Still, he's seen as a five-tool player with great plate discipline and a strong arm and good range in the outfield. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A New Britain. Even a modest improvement at the plate should put him in Minnesota's plans in 2013, but he'll need a breakout season to be considered among the elite prospects in baseball again.

Hicks, the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, entered last season as Minnesota's top hitting prospect, but disappointed at Low-A Beloit with just a .735 OPS. He still drew walks at a good rate, but didn't have much power (just a .382 SLG). Still, he's a five-tool player with signs of great plate discipline and has a strong arm and range in the outfield. He was held back in extended spring training, so don't downgrade him too much since he played just 67 games. He's still regarded as a top prospect and could be an impact player in the majors.

Hicks, the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, looks like Minnesota's top hitting prospect as a five-tool player with signs of strong plate discipline. Hicks hit .318/.409/.491 with 12 steals in rookie ball along with a strong arm and range in the outfield. A strong season at Low-A Beloit could have him on the fast track for the majors.