Aaron Hicks

[KirbyHawk75]

Is this the year he becomes a player for us?  I still think he has a lot of potential.  I am hoping Hunter will help him.  Predictions?

[ashbury]

He's got about as large a gap between ceiling and floor as anybody on the 40-man roster.  Could still turn out to be an above average major league center fielder, could definitely be a total bust. 

 

I'm going to split the difference and guess that the change in regime is especially beneficial to him and he contributes enough to be a starter by August (and then Buxton threatens to come up and take his job away in September). BA in the mid-.200s, OBP .080 above that, modest power, OPS+ just shy of 100, WAR 2 or so if he's up for long enough to rack up the counting stats.

 

I will refuse to profess shock if he falls flat though.

[USNMCPO]

With no stats to quote, my eyeballs tell me Hicks really needs to learn when and how to be aggressive at the plate. Perhaps, with Mollie at the helm, that will come this year. I, for one, am tired of watching strikeouts while looking.

[bird]

I'm interested in hearing some early reports from Ft. Myers. Did he show up early? Who is he working with on the side? What do those people- Mollie, Bruno, Carew, Ryan, Torii- have to say about him, his attitude, his work ethic, his results.

[JB_Iowa]

I'm interested in hearing some early reports from Ft. Myers. Did he show up early? Who is he working with on the side? What do those people- Mollie, Bruno, Carew, Ryan, Torii- have to say about him, his attitude, his work ethic, his results.

 

I think it was still in California but he was working with Carew.

[jorgenswest]

He is a valuable player to a team right now in a platoon/4th OF role.

 

His OPS against left handed pitching last year was .792. That is far better than Arcia (574), Vargas(602) and Mauer(650). It was better than Willingham, Plouffe, Santana and Pinto did against left handed pitching.

 

Add his ability to left handed pitching with his defense that can be plus in a corner and adequate defense in center field and you have a valuable player. He did this at 24 and will get better. Even at 23, his OPS against left handed pitching was .758.

 

If not the Twins, some team will find a way to use him to highlight the talent he brings to the field. It might not be the Twins or many on this board who can only see his deficiencies. I think the Twins might be wise to find a spot for a guy who was one of their better hitters against left handed pitching that also can provide defense on a corner better than their planned starters.

[jimmer]

He is a valuable player to a team right now in a platoon/4th OF role.

 

His OPS against left handed pitching last year was .792. That is far better than Arcia (574), Vargas(602) and Mauer(650). It was better than Willingham, Plouffe, Santana and Pinto did against left handed pitching.

 

Add his ability to left handed pitching with his defense that can be plus in a corner and adequate defense in center field and you have a valuable player. He did this at 24 and will get better. Even at 23, his OPS against left handed pitching was .758.

 

If not the Twins, some team will find a way to use him to highlight the talent he brings to the field. It might not be the Twins or many on this board who can only see his deficiencies. I think the Twins might be wise to find a spot for a guy who was one of their better hitters against left handed pitching that also can provide defense on a corner better than their planned starters.

Notice how easily some are to write off Hicks and still so high on Meyer and his potential.  Yet they are the same age. And Span was only a year younger when he finally got his chance and made the most of it.

[D. Hocking]

I think it was still in California but he was working with Carew.

 

I heard him interviewed this morning.  He has been working with Carew and has been talking and/or working with Bruno.  He is going to head to Fort Meyers in a couple of weeks -- a quick detour to Disney World and then early start on spring training.

[brvama]

I've still not given up on a relatively young Hicks, but he needs to show progress to be in the line-up everyday. He seems like a good candidate for a change of scenery. IMHO, that change will be coming from the change of manager and coaches vs. a change of organizations. Right now, I'd tab him as the breakout candidate on the 40-man roster for this year. Don't fail me now, Aaron.

[Old Twins Cap]

"Hicksie" has frustrated a lot of people, including himself.  But, the Twins cannot give up easily on young talent and then watch it blossom for someone else.  He can get on base, he can play defense, he can throw.  A lot of this is about figuring out who you really are at the MLB level and learning to excel at that.  He has been trying to do too much -- and failing at that.

 

I think the future for him is bright, and I will guarantee that some other organization will jump on him the minute the Twins give up.

[Dantes929]

I believe his value will be as a platoon/4th outfielder against left handed pitchers.   I think a platoon makes sense especially a platoon that is able to play all three outfield spots as this makes for natural and valuable late inning defensive replacements as well as pinch hitting or running options.   Hicks has demonstrated ability to hit major league pitching as a right handed hitter and show little evidence that he can hit major league right handers.    If he does get another opportunity to be the every day guy I hope he does well.   I fear that if he flops again he will be written off.    He had a .410 OBP against lefties last year.  .302 OBP against righties.   I hope he figures it out from the left side by I think it will probably end up being a mistake to let him siwitch hit in the first place

[Bark's Lounge]

I'm not sure what too make out of Hicks. If I were to make a prediction, my guess is he will be the opening day CFer and he will hit .235 with 50BB's, 12HR's and 12SB's.

 

That might bum some people out, but it is what it is and sometimes it takes a player drafted out of High School a good amount of time to develop.

 

Hicks could definitely be a bust, but I look at Alex Gordon as the beacon of player development. Even though he was drafted out of college and was proclaimed the next coming of George Brett. It took him 4-5 years to get his groove on and a position change at that, which has worked out quite nicely.

 

Maybe it is a crapshoot, maybe Hicks is a waste of time, but he just turned 25. I'm not ready to give up on him.

 

And to note: Baltimore acquired former top prospect Travis Snider from the Pirates. I am predicting a major breakout from this soon to be 27 year old man. 25+ HR's and an OPS over .830.

[glunn]

I have read that HIcks was a top pitching prospect when he was in high school and that his fastball reached 95 mph.  I wonder if it is too late for him to go back to pitching if he does not make it as an outfielder.

[KirbyHawk75]

Didn't it take Hunter a few years to get things figured out?  I am not saying he is that good, but he has potential.

[HitInAPinch]

Hicks may turn it around, but I have my doubts.  Hicks has 2 years, 538 ABs and a .201 BA.  The role of a "in a platoon/4th OF" isn't a ringing endorsement and consistent BA's are the only way to see if he is a big league hitter.  If he's only hitting right handed against lefties, I would expect a higher OPS simply because of the repetitions.  His left-handed swing was a mess and maybe Carew has cleaned that up.

 

Time will tell.  This will be Hicks most important Spring Training ever.  Unless, of course, the Twins still haven't found some OF's.  Last year was embarrassing....

[HitInAPinch]

Didn't it take Hunter a few years to get things figured out?  I am not saying he is that good, but he has potential.

Looking back at Hunter's stats, no.  Actually pretty impressive.  A couple years with a total of 7 AB's. 

1999 and 2000, with 300+ AB's and improved OPS from .689 to .726.  2001?  Yeah, he exploded:  .784 OPS, 27 HR's. 

 

I think the big difference between Hunter and Hicks is drive and desire.  Hunter wanted it BAD.

[Bark's Lounge]

Didn't it take Hunter a few years to get things figured out?  I am not saying he is that good, but he has potential.

That is correct. Hunter first debuted in 1997, his 21-22 aged season. Hunter broke threw in 2001, his 25-26 year old season. These are facts that should be put into play about how all of us as a collective need to cool our jets and let things play out. And as everyone knows, there will be more failure than success, historically, league wide, that is how it breaks.

[big dog]

That is correct. Hunter first debuted in 1997, his 21-22 aged season. Hunter broke threw in 2001, his 25-26 year old season. These are facts that should be put into play about how all of us as a collective need to cool our jets and let things play out. And as everyone knows, there will be more failure than success, historically, league wide, that is how it breaks.

Hunter's OPS+ his first three full years: 73, 80, 102. Then at age 26, 124. I want to see how the Hicks story ends.

[stringer bell]

I believe 25-year old Aaron Hicks is still a prospect and can develop into a decent major league center fielder.  However, IMHO, that is just more proof that he needs to be optioned to Rochester to start 2015.  He's been something between a disappointment and a failure in two attempts to secure the center field spot.  He can't do anything in the spring more than he did in '13 and '14 when both the team and observers were lauding his maturity as well as his performance.  Hicks hasn't hit in the majors and he hasn't mastered AAA.  The Twins have cost him two years of development by unwisely promoting him.  If they keep him as a platoon or quasi-platoon, they probably get little value for their first-round choice and he'll be replaced by first Jordan Schafer and then either Byron Buxton or Eddie Rosario.  Hicks needs to get his plate appearances from both sides of the plate, but he probably won't get them with the Twins--he needs to "get it" and his best chance to do that is AAA. 

 

I personally doubt that Hicks will ever hit enough to be a credible option as a corner OF and the (still) #1 prospect in baseball is a center fielder starting the season within range of promotion to the Twins.  Let Hicks handle AAA, get recalled or increase his value enough to be traded for something of value.  If he is going to start less than twice a week, I'd rather Shane Robinson fill that role until a prospect (Hicks, Rosario, Buxton) steps up to claim center.   

[Twodogs]

I'm not sure what too make out of Hicks. If I were to make a prediction, my guess is he will be the opening day CFer and he will hit .235 with 50BB's, 12HR's and 12SB's.

 

That might bum some people out, but it is what it is and sometimes it takes a player drafted out of High School a good amount of time to develop.

 

Hicks could definitely be a bust, but I look at Alex Gordon as the beacon of player development. Even though he was drafted out of college and was proclaimed the next coming of George Brett. It took him 4-5 years to get his groove on and a position change at that, which has worked out quite nicely.

 

Maybe it is a crapshoot, maybe Hicks is a waste of time, but he just turned 25. I'm not ready to give up on him.

 

And to note: Baltimore acquired former top prospect Travis Snider from the Pirates. I am predicting a major breakout from this soon to be 27 year old man. 25+ HR's and an OPS over .830.

I may be pessimistic but I am a Hicks fan and .235 12 hr and 12 SBs would in my opinion be a huge jump in production from the last two years.  If it were to trend upwards to his 27 year old season maybe .250 17 hrs and 25 SBs wouldn't be out of the question.  But if he flounders around .200 again then he will be a hard sell to anyone.

[gil4]

I think the big difference between Hunter and Hicks is drive and desire.  Hunter wanted it BAD.

 

I think we are given such limited glimpses of even the most visible athletes that there is no way for us to know that.  They are different players with different strengths and weaknesses.  I still think Hicks has a chance to be a very good player, and I hope this is the year he puts it together.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hicks could definitely be a bust, but I look at Alex Gordon as the beacon of player development. Even though he was drafted out of college and was proclaimed the next coming of George Brett. It took him 4-5 years to get his groove on and a position change at that, which has worked out quite nicely.

Gordon was an average MLB starter his first two years (ages 23-24).  Scuffled over the next two, got demoted but absolutely destroyed AAA, then became a force (defensively perhaps as much as offensively) in his 5th season.  After that, his past 3 seasons have not been materially different, offensively, from his age-24 season.

 

Again, I get that players develop, but most of these positive examples showed a lot more promise and performance than Hicks so far.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hunter's OPS+ his first three full years: 73, 80, 102. Then at age 26, 124. I want to see how the Hicks story ends.

Although Hunter was a basically a finished product those early years, in terms of AVG/OBP and BB% and K%.  His age 25 "breakthrough" was adding power.

[big dog]

Although Hunter was a basically a finished product those early years, in terms of AVG/OBP and BB% and K%.  His age 25 "breakthrough" was adding power.

If just adding power meant his OPS+ jumped 44 points in two years, I'll take more power, please.

[Linus]

While I clearly believe the clock is ticking on Hicks making it as a regular in the big leagues, still too early to give up on him, which means he needs to start in AAA.  He needs to develop at the plate and the best way to do that is to master AAA first.  I know his OBP has been decent but I think that will go by the wayside unless he can get a few hits; major league pitchers are soon done walking this guy - they will force him to swing the bat.

 

Two other theories I would like to dismiss:

 

Torii is going to work magic with the guy.  Even when he was being roundly criticized for signing him, TR would never go to the mentor, leadership card.  Its made up stuff; Hicks is trying to learn how to hit from one of the greatest hitters who ever lived (Carew) - that should be all he needs, if in fact, this type of thing works.

 

Second, a right handed hitting platoon player ain't much, as the at bats are far more limited.  Left handed, maybe he has some value but the whole platoon thing is overblown anyway, with 13 man pitching staffs, etc.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I think the big difference between Hunter and Hicks is drive and desire.  Hunter wanted it BAD.

 

There's no way to know this. Just because Hicks is more laid back doesn't mean that the desire isn't there.

[Willihammer]

I'd love to say yes this is the year he sticks as a regular but, based on what? A .738 line in Rochester? A .220/.381/.280 triple slash in Venezuela?

[ashbury]

I'd love to say yes this is the year he sticks as a regular but, based on what? A .738 line in Rochester? A .220/.381/.280 triple slash in Venezuela?

Yeah, I want to be optimistic but the recent winter ball outcome was sobering to me.

[sploorp]

Hicks hit .250 in the second half last year.  Nobody doubts he can get walks.  He's got some speed or he wouldn't be a center fielder.  He also is a decent defender too.

 

I would love to see him develop into a total stud, but as far as I'm concerned, he finally turned the corner and if he continues where he left off, he's plenty good enough to keep sending out there.

[glunn]

It appears that Hunter is looking forward to mentoring Hicks:  http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/107814252/torii-hunter-to-mentor-minnesota-twins-young-outfielders

 

"I know Hicks can play, but with Buxton -- I haven't seen video or seen him play, but every word I hear is good about him," Hunter said. "I definitely think when we get to Spring Training we'll sit down and I'll work out with them and evaluate what they're doing right and what they're doing wrong."