In the world of MLB success can often hinge on a change of scenery. Aaron Hicks, a former New York Yankees outfielder, is a testament to this phenomenon. While the Yankees may have missed the postseason this year, some of their ex-players, like Hicks, have found new life with different teams, pursuing a deep postseason run.
Aaron Hicks’ remarkable resurgence in Baltimore
Hicks, who had once inked a substantial seven-year, $70 million contract with the Yankees back in 2019, was wearing a different uniform when the 2023 postseason arrived. At 34 years old, his tenure in pinstripes had seen its fair share of struggles. In 28 games earlier this season, he managed only a .188 batting average and a .263 on-base percentage (OBP). However, his fortunes took a remarkable turn for the better once he joined the Baltimore Orioles.
During his 65 games with the Orioles, Hicks displayed a resurgence in his performance. He boasted a .275 batting average, a .381 OBP, a .425 slugging rate, seven home runs, and 31 runs batted in (RBIs). Perhaps even more impressive was his remarkable 129 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), signifying that he was 29% better than the league average at creating runs. Furthermore, his strikeout rate plummeted from 26.3% to a more manageable 20.8%, while his walk rate surged to an impressive 14.8%.
In the postseason, as the Orioles faced off against the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series (ALDS), Hicks showed his mettle. In Game 1, despite the Orioles’ eventual loss, Hicks made a significant impact. He managed to reach base twice, drawing two walks and striking out just once, resulting in an impressive .500 OBP. His ability to get on base offered his team valuable scoring opportunities and raised expectations for a stronger performance in Game 2.
Hicks’ resurgence in Baltimore highlights a common theme in baseball: some players, once they leave the storied confines of the Bronx, rediscover their form and thrive elsewhere. In Hicks’ case, his success with the Orioles has positioned him as a key playoff contributor for a team harboring World Series aspirations.
Considering Hicks’ impending free-agent status and the fact that the Yankees are committed to paying him $10 million in the coming years, it’s not far-fetched to imagine him continuing his journey with the Orioles next season. Whether he remains in Baltimore or explores other opportunities, Aaron Hicks has demonstrated that a change of scenery can sometimes be the catalyst for a player’s resurgence, even in the twilight of their career.
The bittersweet feelings of Yankees fans
As die-hard Yankees fans, we can’t help but feel a mix of emotions when we see Hicks thriving in another uniform. It’s bittersweet to witness his success, knowing that he once wore the pinstripes with pride. Yet, we can’t help but root for him as he chases his postseason dreams with the Orioles.
As the postseason unfolds, let’s keep a close eye on Hicks and other former Yankees who are making their mark in new places. While our beloved Bronx Bombers might not be in the hunt this year, the magic of baseball still lives on, offering redemption stories and unexpected twists that keep us captivated year after year. Here’s to Aaron Hicks and his journey, and who knows, maybe one day we’ll see him back in the Bronx.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
I’m happy for Hicks. Wish him the best. He had too many injuries with the Yankees. And it just didn’t work out.
I’m happy for him, too. He sucked in NY. It’s good he’s got Baltimore…
Hicks is just not that good anymore, can’t hit or field and has a noodle of an arm. Yes he can have a short run being passable, but he cried like every time he went on the field for the Yankees and was horrible and injured most of the time.
Not really sad he is gone, wish he would have given back the millions he did not earn the past several years while a Yankee.
He needed to go. It’s not bittersweet his lack of performance and injuries with the Yankees over the past few years was not acceptable. So he found something in Baltimore that he wasn’t doing in New York. Good luck to him.
It’s not surprising when a “change in scenery” drastically improves a player’s performance. When a player goes to another team, he encounters different hitting coaches with different hitting philosophies, and different techniques to end a player’s slump and attempt to get the most out of that player’s natural abilities. There is also a different manager, who will use him differently. Also, the player leaves behind a fan base who was booing him, and publicly pleading management to trade him or DFA him, and now has a fan base that is welcoming him and encouraging him to do well.
He also missed a hit and run signal in the first game, getting the runner thrown out at second base…in the 9th inning