Aaron Hicks, Outfield, Baltimore Orioles

Date of Birth: 10/2/1989
Birthplace: San Pedro, California

Aaron Hicks, outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2008. He played in the Twins' minor league system from 2008 through half of 2013, finishing with a .269 batting average.

In 2013, Hicks played in 81 games with the Twins. He batted .192 with 54 hits and 8 home runs. As a center fielder, he made 215 putouts and zero errors. He finished the 2014 season with 40 hits and a .215 batting average in 69 games.

Hicks played in 97 games with the Twins in 2015. He finished the season with 90 hits, 33 RBIs, and a .256 batting average. Defensively, as a center fielder, he made 223 putouts and 1 error in 88 games.

Hicks was traded to the New York Yankees on November 11, 2015. He struggled in his first year with the Yankees, batting just .217 in 2016. He had 71 hits, 13 doubles, and 31 RBIs in 123 games. Defensively, he played in 25 games in left field, 24 games in center field, and 86 games in right field. He had 186 putouts and just one error.

Hicks spent time on the DL in 2017, limiting his playing time to 88 games. He finished the season with 80 hits, 18 doubles, 15 home runs, 52 RBIs, 67 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a .266 batting average. Defensively, he played 22 games in left field, 52 games in center field, and 14 games in right field. In the postseason, he had 9 hits, including 2 doubles and a home run, and 5 RBIs in 46 at-bats in 13 games. He struck out 14 times and walked 4 times.

Hicks finished the 2018 season with 119 hits, 18 doubles, 27 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .248 batting average in 137 games. Showing good discipline at the plate, he walked 90 times, while striking out 111 times. Defensively, at center field, he made 268 putouts and 2 errors. In the postseason, he batted .222 with 2 hits, including a double, and 1 RBI in 9 at-bats in 3 games.

The Yankees and Hicks agreed to a seven-year contract extension on February 25, 2019. He spent time on the DL with back strain and a right flexor strain. He finished the season with 52 hits and a .235 batting average in 59 games. Defensively, as a center fielder in 58 games, he made 115 putouts and 1 error and he had a .991 fielding percentage. In the postseason, he had 13 at-bats in 5 games, 2 hits, including a home run, 1 stolen base, 3 RBIs, 5 strikeouts to 4 walks, and a .154 batting average.

Hicks played in 54 games in 2020. He finished the season with 38 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs, 21 RBIs, 38 strikeouts to 41 walks, and a .225 batting average. Defensively, he played 50 games in center field. In the postseason, he had 8 hits, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 5 strikeouts to 6 walks, and a .308 batting average in 26 at-bats in 7 games.

Hicks spent most of the 2021 season on the IL with a left wrist injury. He batted just .194 in 32 games. He didn't play in the postseason.

The Yankees released Hicks on May 26, 2023. He signed with the Orioles on May 30th.

Career batting statistics for Hicks through 2021 include:

• 740 games played
• 565 hits
• 102 doubles
• 92 home runs
• 311 RBIs
• 592 strikeouts to 351 walks
• .233 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Hicks as a center fielder through 2021 include:

• 573 games played
• 1,306 putouts
• 10 errors
• .993 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Aaron Hicks
ESPN - Aaron Hicks