Aaron Hicks - P?

[Thirty-three]

I may be tarred and feathered for even mentioning this, but every so often I wonder about the possibility of Aaron Hicks being moved to the pitcher's mound. I realize that he's loaded with tools, is a great outfielder, and has a keen eye at the plate, but otherwise his numbers have been above average for his level at best. When the Twins drafted him, there were some teams that were looking at him as a pitcher, he could throw upwards of 97 mph at the time, and the video I saw of his curveball was impressive. Seeing that the Twins have a lack of pitching talent and a surplus of OFers, I wonder if the Twins even remember that moving him could be an option? Or, how long does he need to put up uninspiring numbers for this to be discussed again?

[Thrylos]

The best way to turn Hicks to a pitcher, esp. a starting pitcher is through a trade You could probably get an equivalently high pitching prospect for him.

[Mike Sixel]

The secret to Hicks is to give up on the switch hitting, but they refuse to pull the plug. That's another year in the minors where he doesn't practice hitting from one side down the drain.

[benhertz]

Maybe Hicks can pitch a few games in winter ball.

[nicksaviking]

I think the conversion to pitcher would be a lengthy one. Not only has he not pitched in half a decade, but he only did so at the HS level. It could be done, but if the Twins do it, he might not be ready for the Twins liking before he would become a minor league free agent, in which case the the Twins would have groomed him for another club's benefit.

[Bark's Lounge]

I do not think we will ever see Hicks as a pitcher. He is a only 22 and I expect he will figure out his hitting problems to a certain degree. Maybe eliminating the switch hitting element of his game would help? I hope the clock is ticking down on that (switch hitting is very overrated). If the Twins were to demand Hicks converts to a pitcher. My guess is he would call it a career and focus his energy on being a pro golfer - from what I hear, he is pretty good. If some want to use T-Hunt as an example of development - Hunter didn't emerge until his age 25/26 season. There is still a fare amount of time for Hicks and it is way too soon to lose hope on his promise.

[glunn]

I do not think we will ever see Hicks as a pitcher. He is a only 22 and I expect he will figure out his hitting problems to a certain degree. Maybe eliminating the switch hitting element of his game would help? I hope the clock is ticking down on that (switch hitting is very overrated). If the Twins were to demand Hicks converts to a pitcher. My guess is he would call it a career and focus his energy on being a pro golfer - from what I hear' date=' he is pretty good. If some want to use T-Hunt as an example of development - Hunter didn't emerge until his age 25/26 season. There is still a fare amount of time for Hicks and it is way too soon to lose hope on his promise.[/quote']

 

I wonder if it might make sense to warm him up and see if he can still throw at 97 mph and if he still has a good curve ball. It seems logical to try something different, even if it's just abandoning the switch hitting.

[Shane Wahl]

The secret to Hicks is to give up on the switch hitting, but they refuse to pull the plug. That's another year in the minors where he doesn't practice hitting from one side down the drain.

Exactly. I don't know why they don't try it immediately.

[PMKI]

I have this weird feeling that Aaron Hicks will end up being a All-Star caliber OF for us in the future.

[glunn]

I have this weird feeling that Aaron Hicks will end up being a All-Star caliber OF for us in the future.

Let's hope that Bark is correct and like Torii Hunter, Hicks will eventually break out. And note that Torii did not fool around with switch hitting.

 

On the other hand, Hicks was a great pitcher in high school with superior velocity, and who knows whether he could become a great pitcher in the majors.

[Thrylos]

On the other hand, Hicks was a great pitcher in high school with superior velocity, and who knows whether he could become a great pitcher in the majors.

Buxton is too, and like Hicks he can throw 99 mph. Straight and FB and Slowball only. But High School kids cannot catch up to that. All OFs with strong arms can throw fast and straight. Does not mean that they project as Ps in pro ball.

[Mr. Ed]

The secret to Hicks is to give up on the switch hitting, but they refuse to pull the plug. That's another year in the minors where he doesn't practice hitting from one side down the drain.

Ditto Arcia. Quit the switch-hitting now.

[Winston Smith]

I can't see how a few bull pen sessions and maybe a simulated game could hurt anything. Wouldn't it be worth a try?

[Shane Wahl]

Ditto Arcia. Quit the switch-hitting now.

Arcia is not a switch hitter. He just struggles mightily against lefties (though he makes up for it).

[Shane Wahl]

I can't see how a few bull pen sessions and maybe a simulated game could hurt anything. Wouldn't it be worth a try?

No I don't think it is worth a try. One cannot just start pitching again after several seasons not doing it. A whole bunch of stuff has to change, including workouts and training. An injury is the most likely result from that kind of an experiment.

 

He's 22 at AA. His defense is excellent and there is no reason to think that the offense won't improve given two more minor league seasons.

[J-Dog Dungan]

I agree with everyone who has said that he 1) Shouldn't be converted to being a pitcher and 2) He and the Twins should give up on him switch-hitting, because from what I have read is that he rakes on the right side and is not very good on the left side.

[Shane Wahl]

I agree with everyone who has said that he 1) Shouldn't be converted to being a pitcher and 2) He and the Twins should give up on him switch-hitting, because from what I have read is that he rakes on the right side and is not very good on the left side.

Well, he hits well from the right side against lefties. And is bad from the left side against righties. It isn't necessarily about "giving up" on the switch-hitting, but about experimenting with him batting from the right side against righties. If he isn't better from the right side, somehow, I would be surprised though.

[Craig in MN]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hicks does give up switch hitting, but keep in mind that he is one of the youngest players in all of AA. He is still learning. For perspective.....there is only one younger hitter in the Eastern League who is hitting better than Hicks (Jefry Marte).

[Winston Smith]

Position players pitch now and then. Butera pitched an inning early this year. I'm not talking about sticking him out there for a 9 inning game. 20-30 pitches in the bull pen a few times will likely give the coaches an idea if he has a chance or not. You certainly wouldn't pitch him in games this year but you could figure out for after the season if it's a viable option for next year. However, he is still young no reason to panic yet but it would be nice to see a little more progress.

[James]

I'd rather have him try hitting from the right side against right handed pitchers. Maybe something clicks and he starts tearing it up. Maybe not, but that would be my first step before trying him out on the mound.

[TwinsGuy55422]

I don't think switching him to pitcher is a reasonable option. Not after spending this much time developing him as an outfielder. I am sure he still has the raw tools to pitch but doing so at the professional level is far different than in high school so he would essentially hitting the reset button on his development.

[jimbo92107]

I have this weird feeling that Aaron Hicks will end up being a All-Star caliber OF for us in the future.

It's not a weird feeling, it's completely natural. Aaron Hicks is rising slowly through the minors, just about the same way Torii Hunter did, and the way Dennard Span did. Some ball players need a full schooling in the minors before they emerge as a polished product. Sometimes, like Span and Hunter, they get a brief taste of the big show, then get sent down for some specific instruction, then come back up as an emerging star.

 

At 22, Aaron Hicks is a looooooong way from looking like a wasted pick. He is already regarded as an excellent pro-caliber outfielder, and he's gradually getting better as a hitter. Within two years he'll get his first taste of the show, then maybe a little more AAA, then back up to stay. That's my prediction. We may well see Hicks, Benson (Arcia?) and Buxton together in the outfield within three years.

[cjhawk]

It's not a weird feeling, it's completely natural. Aaron Hicks is rising slowly through the minors, just about the same way Torii Hunter did, and the way Dennard Span did. Some ball players need a full schooling in the minors before they emerge as a polished product. Sometimes, like Span and Hunter, they get a brief taste of the big show, then get sent down for some specific instruction, then come back up as an emerging star.

 

At 22, Aaron Hicks is a looooooong way from looking like a wasted pick. He is already regarded as an excellent pro-caliber outfielder, and he's gradually getting better as a hitter. Within two years he'll get his first taste of the show, then maybe a little more AAA, then back up to stay. That's my prediction. We may well see Hicks, Benson (Arcia?) and Buxton together in the outfield within three years.

I would be suprised to see Buxton in the bigs within 3 years although it would be nice. What are your guys thoughts, how long will it take Buxton to reach the show?

[TwinsGuy55422]

I think 3 years would be pretty optimistic for Buxton but you never know how players will develop. Joe Mauer was a great prospect coming out of the draft, but how many people would have guessed that he would be starting at catcher in the bigs at age 20. As far as Buxton goes, I would guess it would take 4-5 years for him to be ready to signifcantly contribute.

[TwinsGuy55422]

I am not worried about Hicks. Some tools develop faster than others and for him it is the hitting. I do think they will stop the switch hitting which should help. Even if he took another couple of years to be ready, he would still only be 24 years old.

[Paul]

Switch hitting is not over rated. What most kids struggle with is curve/slider recognition. What switch hitting does is position a batter so he NEVER EVER has to face a curve ball or slider that starts at his body before moving into or through the strike zone. Ya think that might've helped Cuddyer? Or Morneau? The Twins have to see if they can improve Hicks' recognition/sight or mechanics before they scrap the idea. Have a little paitience with the kid.

 

T98 is absolutely right. Most of the kids on the Twins roster "pitched" in HS. Most can throw 90 MPH+. But that's a long way from being a ML pitcher.

[Mr. Ed]

The Twins have to see if they can improve Hicks' recognition/sight or mechanics before they scrap the idea. Have a little paitience with the kid.

 

How many more years does he need to hit in the low .200s vs RHP? it's been that way all the way through. Hits well right-handed, struggles left-handed.

[Paul]

How many more years does he need to hit in the low .200s vs RHP? it's been that way all the way through. Hits well right-handed, struggles left-handed.

The kid is 22 yrs old in AA. You may be right and they may ultimately scrap the LH side. And he might then struggle to hit "the low .200s vs RHP" from the right side.

 

Or maybe the Twins are right and they find the bug, and his ceiling goes way up. And we get to watch him in the allstar game every year.

[Mr. Ed]

They better find the bug soon. 5 years in, striking out just over 1 in 3 at bats lefthanded.

[Sssuperdave]

At risk of hijacking this thread - I'm wondering why Butera hasn't been tried at pitcher. Wasn't he hitting the low 90s when he pitched a few weeks ago? With coaching, couldn't he hit the mid 90s? If he can control it, would he have the makings of a big league pitcher? Unlike Hicks, it seems like his ceiling as a position player isn't anything above replacement level.

 

Obviously I don't know much about this stuff - is it common for position players to be able to throw 90 mph?