Aaron Hicks Sidelined Longer Than Expected
Yankees’ Outfielder Aaron Hicks may miss the remainder of the season. Hicks suffered an injury to his wrist in an 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles on May 14th, and an MRI later revealed that Hicks had a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.
Hicks was originally expected to return only a few months later in the season, but now returning during the season is a stretch itself. Unfortunately for Hicks, this wrist issue is not his first time dealing with injuries. In 2019, Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery to fix a flexor strain in his right arm.
The Yankees signed Hicks to a seven-year, $70 million contract extension in February 2019, an extension that could hurt the Yankees if Hicks fails to stay healthy. Hicks’ season was off to a disappointing start anyway, as he slashed .194/.294/.333 with four home runs and 14 runs batted in before getting hurt.
Despite Hicks’ stat line, the Yankees rely on him a lot to get on base. Last year, he had the second-highest on-base percentage at .379, second only to MVP Runner-Up D.J. LeMahieu. While his skills at the plate have not jumped off the page this season, he is clearly an important part of the Yankee’s offense.
What Now For The Yankees?
The lack of production from the Yankee outfield is a clear indicator that some sort of trade for an outfielder could be in the works. With the injury to Hicks and Mike Tauchman traded to the San Francisco Giants, the time is right for the Yankees to look for outside help in the outfield.
Some names to keep an eye on include Rangers OF Delino Deshields Jr., Diamondbacks OF David Peralta, and Mariners OF Mitch Haniger – all players that could be acquired at the trade deadline. It would take quite a haul, but Rangers OF Joey Gallo could be a potential outfielder to target as well.
The injury certainly hurts the Yankees. Hicks does not have the most impressive numbers, but his high OBP and walk rate stand out in a lineup that gets most of their runs via the long ball.
Vendetta Sports Media is sponsored by Monkey Knife Fight, the fastest growing DFS site in the industry. MKF’s unique style and gameplay make betting fun and easy. Use our promo code ‘VENDETTA’ or use the link below to get a 100% instant match on any deposit and let them know that we sent you!
