Aaron Hicks feels insecure after Bader’s return, warns over playing time

Monday September 19, 2022

MILWAUKEE — Aaron Hicks is on the bench after a fan backlash following his failure to catch a two-ball run against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. He was taken off that game during the fourth inning and struggles to find a place in the starting lineup since then. Now the center fielder feels insecure for his place in the team, as Harrison Bader is set to return on Tuesday.

After getting two hits on Friday, Aaron Hicks wasn’t in the lineup on Saturday. He replaced an injured Marwin Gonzalez in the third inning and went 1-for-3 as the Yankees lost to the Brewers 4-1.

Manager Aaron Boone hasn’t said that Aaron Hicks won’t play a part in the rest of the season. However, he has hinted that Hicks’ time could be cut even more by Bader’s presence.

The Yankees got Harrison Bader from St. Louis in exchange for Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline. After remaining out of action for plantar fasciitis, the “total player” is healthy and back in the lineup.

The Yankees upgraded Aaron Hicks to a seven-year, $70 million contract in 2019. He has still three years left. He hit a grand slam in July this season.

However, when he dropped two fly balls during the Yankees‘ last homestand and fans booed him by calling him another “Joey Gallo.”

Aron Hicks believes that the presence of another outfielder is going to prolong his bench role. According to him:

“I expect Bader to come in and start playing every day, as he should. He got traded here to help us win. We need him to be himself to win a World Series.

When I get opportunities, I’ll try to make the most of them, but it’s extremely hard when I play a game and then I’m off for three days and now there’s another outfielder out there.”

The California native is unsure if he could make it work in New York and even sounded that it could be better for him to play somewhere else next year. When asked about his role in the team, he told:

“Right now, I think that the more I play, the better I’ll get. Not what’s happening right now. The Yankees will have to decide, and I’ll wait to see what they do. That’s not really up to me.”

Aaron Hicks has seen that Joey Gallo’s play has gotten better since he was traded from the Yankees to the Dodgers after a terrible time in New York. Hicks said:

” In New York, things are hard. I don’t know what to say. If they don’t think this is a good fit for me, that’s up to them. If I go to another team, I know I can help them win. Joey started to play better when he joined the Dodgers, and I heard on a podcast that [Los Angeles manager] Dave Roberts was a big part of that because he wanted to get the most out of his players.”

After getting two hits on Friday, Aaron Hicks wasn’t in the lineup on Saturday. He replaced an injured Marwin Gonzalez in the third inning and went 1-for-3 as the Yankees lost to the Brewers 4-1.

But Boone thinks Hicks remains a very important player and can contribute during playoffs.

Meanwhile, Aaron Hicks is already planning for the offseason, when he hopes to gain weight after his efforts to become slimmer and faster following season-ending wrist surgery last year backfired.

After coming off the injured list, Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless seventh inning in which he walked Luis Urias on four pitches to start the inning. The left-handed pitcher will try to get back in shape before the playoffs so he can go back to the back of the bullpen.

Anthony Rizzo made a comeback from the disabled list on Sunday. He missed time because of tightness in his lower back and then headaches after he got an epidural to help with his back pain. He hit a home run against the Brewers. The Yankees won 12-8.

DJ LeMahieu could come back from his right toe inflammation during the next homestand.

Marwin Gonzalez had to exit the game in Milwaukee after catcher Victor Caratini hit him in the side of the head. Aaron Hicks took his place.

Gonzalez was out on defense both nights, so Oswaldo Cabrera moved from right field to first base to take his place.

Jose Trevino was also fine, even though he had to leave Friday’s game after straining his right knee. However, Boone had already planned to put Kyle Higashioka in the lineup Saturday. Before Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s fall from grace on Friday night, he had planned for Oswald Peraza to start at shortstop on Saturday.

Right-hander Stephen Ridingsmade his first rehab appearance with Double-A Somerset. He pitched an inning in which no runs were scored.

Should the Yankees let Aaron Hicks go?