Hicks Locks It In

Aaron Hicks is a player whose success reflects the best in baseball's passion for analytics. A former 1st round draft pick of the Twins, he'd struggled with Minnesota. never developing into the player the front office expected.

After the 2015 season, the Twins were ready to move on, while the Yankees "saw something" they believed their staff could unlock. Swapped that winter for backup catcher John Ryan Murphy, Hicks began showing glimpses of his natural ability... and in 2017, fans saw even more -- along with injuries that sidelined him nearly half the season.

It all came together in 2018, career highs in every key offensive stat from home runs to walks, RBIs and games played -- plus above-average defense in center. That convinced Brian Cashman that he'd found his center fielder of the present and future.

Seven years and $70 million later, Aaron Hicks became the second key Yankee in two weeks to sign a long-term extension.

(My image of Hicks is from the Yankees/Red Sox game last July 1st.)

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