It is time for Aaron Hicks to return

[Shane Wahl]

Hicks' AAA numbers are now pretty much square with his career minor league numbers. He is hitting from the left side well and is really, really hitting well from the right side. He has gotten some time in RF too.

 

Also, Jordan Schafer is terrible. I thought it would be Robinson who would be this bad. Schafer isn't even stealing bases. And Robinson is not going to continue like this. Maybe he ends up keeping his OPS close to .675 or so by the end of the season, but that will mean regression from where he is now. 

 

Given how often Arcia is not in the lineup and Escobar (who is terrible at the plate so far) is in LF, it makes even more sense to have Hicks up than we originally thought around here, and this is even more so given how willing Molitor is to sit Arcia against lefties (for better or worse given the actual current Escobar alternative). An OF alignment of Robinson-Hicks-Hunter is not too shabby against lefties for now. We can worry about Buxton later.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Agree, though I might write it up something like Hicks-Robinson-Arcia.

[stringer bell]

A homer (#2) and a double today for Hicks.  Certainly, he is doing well.  Not certain it will carry over to the majors.  However, the "crown prince" is absolutely raking in Chattanooga, so what then? 

[jokin]

 

A homer (#2) and a double today for Hicks.  Certainly, he is doing well.  Not certain it will carry over to the majors.  However, the "crown prince" is absolutely raking in Chattanooga, so what then? 

 

"Goodbye" Jordan Shafer?

[Craig Arko]

If Arcia has to go to the DL this is an easy call.

[jokin]

But seriously, Hicks seems to be accomplishing exactly what the Twins have been hoping to see.

 

But I'm with you on Hicksie- he's demonstrated his mastery of the Twins FO assessment of him- fool em once... fool em twice... fool em thrice?

 

With Molitor's love of exploiting L/R splits, I've gotta think he'll remain skeptical of Hicks for a while longer before he pulls the plug on Schafer.

[HitInAPinch]

No way.  Remember, he's failed miserably twice.  A 3rd would probably break him for good.  I want to see at least a half season at AAA with numbers better than his "career minor league numbers".  I also don't see a huge need to callup Hicks when the team is on a nice little streak.

[stringer bell]

To expand on my earlier comment--Hicks has been on a good run for about two weeks and his overall numbers are very good.  I don't know if he's been fundamentally sound in the field or on the bases.  He still is weaker from the left side, but has been serviceable from that side in Rochester.  If the Twins need an outfielder and get one from Rochester, he's separated himself from Rosario. 

 

Buxton's streak has been for a week, but he's been more than warm, it is multiple hits and extra base hits almost every day.  He's got 5 triples already.  A first-hand report from a TD poster says that he's outstanding in center field and we all know he has explosive speed (according to Terry Ryan, the fastest man ever in the organization since Ryan was in it). 

 

Arcia left today's game with a sore hip, Schafer has been nursing multiple injuries.  I suppose either could go on the DL.  I expect the Twins would go that route with Schafer rather than DFAing him.  If the Twins need an outfielder for fifteen days, do they add Hicks with the possibility that he gets sent down after those 15 days?  What would that do to his confidence? 

 

The other part of this equation is Buxton.  If the OPS goes into the .900s would the Twins promote him to Rochester or maybe skip AAA and go all the way to Target Field?

[blindeke]

It all depends on the alternatives, and right now, they suck. I hate watching Escobar in LF! And don't get me started on Schafer...

 

If now now Hicks, then when? Might as well roll the dice. At least he can get on base!

[drivlikejehu]

He should be up. There's a very good chance he makes the Twins a better team.

 

Will he reach the ceiling the Twins drafted him for? No. That ship has sailed. But he can contribute and they may as well start carving out a role for him.

[spinowner]

His defense is reason enough to bring him up. He's a top-tier outfielder; he's got range, he's got hands and he's got a cannon. All he has to do is hit .250 or so and he's an asset to the team. I'd love to see him do well enough to hold down right field next year. Arcia can play left, which is where the weakest defensive player on a major league team plays. What's his name, the guy who's in Chattanooga right now, can play center. That could be a big-time outfield.

[stringer bell]

 

His defense is reason enough to bring him up. He's a top-tier outfielder; he's got range, he's got hands and he's got a cannon. All he has to do is hit .250 or so and he's an asset to the team. I'd love to see him do well enough to hold down right field next year. Arcia can play left, which is where the weakest defensive player on a major league team plays. What's his name, the guy who's in Chattanooga right now, can play center. That could be a big-time outfield.

No he's not a good outfielder, at least he hasn't been up to now.  I just don't see Hicks hitting enough to hold down a corner outfield spot. 

[Shane Wahl]

 

There's a very good chance he makes the Twins a better team.

 

Will he reach the ceiling the Twins drafted him for? No. That ship has sailed. But he can contribute and they may as well start carving out a role for him.

 

These are three key facts! If Aaron Hicks ends up in a platoon with Oswaldo Arcia for some of this year and then going forward, I say "Hell Yes!" to that. Fill a roster with players who can excel in their roles.

[jorgenswest]

Unless Arcia forces the issue, I would wait a few more weeks.

 

Once in Minnesota, I would start him against all left handed pitching and slowly increase starts against right handed pitching. Confidence from success are critical. The Twins have a player that will be a useful platoon/4th OF. There is still a chance he can develop into an every day player but it can't be expected the day he returns.

[DocBauer]

No. For the good of Hicks's future, and thus for the good of a part of the Twins future, he absolutely should NOT be brought up yet, unless injury would force the issue.

 

A single, solid month at the begining of the season does not a "fix" make. Hicks was jumped to the majors too early. Forgiveable...understandable. Not sure there really can be any excuse for the second failed go around. He got some time at AAAA last season, his very first taste, and looked OK. Again, no proof of a "fix" but at least we were reminded he wasn't inept. Now, a solitary month with his new leg kick and he's the new/old solution for CF?

 

I believe a mice can and should be made, and it doesn't have to be huge or earth shattering. But not Hicks. Not now. Not yet. He keeps this up all the way to mid season, then I could say yes.

[Monkeypaws]

How long is the future for a 25 year old? It's now or never land for Hicks now.

 

He has 500+ abs in the majors.

[diehardtwinsfan]

With the exception of an injury stint where it's clearly communicated that he's heading back down after 15 days, I'd probably leave him in Rochester for at least one more month.  I'd like him to keep doing what's he's doing and get some confidence that he can keep doing it before sending him to the wolves up here.  He's failed twice.  I think that merits some caution.

[curt1965]

Hicks is a better player than Schaefer and Robinson. If the Twins are truly about winning, this move is easy.

However, the organization seems terminally pissed off at Hicks, and it appears like something drastic has to happen for the FO to bring him up. For those who say that Aaron has to SERVE so many weeks or months in Rochester, then putting the best lineup on the field is not the way to go?

I don't know if it is his desire or his attitude that has been drawing all the negative reviews. If he is a good teammate, plays hard, and keeps his nose clean, what's the problem? IMHO, most of his issues began when he was promoted too soon. Players handle this differently-(see Santana, Vargas,etc,). Please, put the best players on the field!

[nicksaviking]

I'm all for the younger players and playing for the future and ignoring today,, but the club certainly wants to win today, and they're winning with Robinson. They're going to be inclined to hope and dream Robinson is not a mirage even if it's beyond reason.

[h2oface]

 

He should be up. There's a very good chance he makes the Twins a better team.

 

Will he reach the ceiling the Twins drafted him for? No. That ship has sailed. But he can contribute and they may as well start carving out a role for him.

 

He still might. He certainly can be more than many #1's still. What do you think about Plouffe? It took a long time, but do you think he has now reached the ceiling the Twins drafted him for? Or the floor, or minimum they had hoped for? Even if a #1 pick reaches the minimum or floor, it can be quite beneficial.

 

I would love to seem him up, and while he is hot, and plugged right in.

[Shane Wahl]

I am not asking for Hicks to replace Robinson. I am asking for an immediate replacement of Jordan Schafer. There have been games against lefties that Arcia has sat out, which is understandable. The result, however, has been that two of these four--Schafer, Robinson, Nunez, and Escobar have been in the OF with Hunter. Schafer and Escobar are not good defensively or offensively, and the hot starts for Robinson and Nunez are very unsustainable. 

 

The long term answer might be a Rosario-Buxton-Arcia/Hicks OF anyway. Maybe it is time to try out that future RF platoon?

[nicksaviking]

I'm not platooning Arcia full time at this point. He's way too young to quit on him, especially now that he's heating up. Hicks can come up, but not at the expense of another prospect.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd rather call up Buxton.....this is about how long some other elite OFers spent in AA......and, I'd also rather not platoon Arcia just yet in his career.

[Willihammer]

 

this is about how long some other elite OFers spent in AA

Like who?

[Willihammer]

I'd be curious to know what, if any, adjustments Hicks has made against RHPs this year.

[Mike Sixel]

Ken Griffey....17 games.

 

But, I was wrong about McCutchen, I forgot his time in AA was spread across two years.....

 

Hrbek skipped AA and AAA.....Puckett skipped AA, and played only 21 games in AAA.

 

There are a ton of examples, I don't think you'd have to look that hard to find them.

[Willihammer]

 

Ken Griffey....17 games.

 

But, I was wrong about McCutchen, I forgot his time in AA was spread across two years.....

 

Hrbek skipped AA and AAA.....Puckett skipped AA, and played only 21 games in AAA.

 

There are a ton of examples, I don't think you'd have to look that hard to find them.

I thought you might have recent examples chambered based on your comment above.

 

In a thread about Aaron Hicks, it seems painfully ironic that the solution to CF would be to rush the next guy before he's dominated AAA.

[Mike Sixel]

I thought I read all last year that AAA wasn't for top prospects anymore, that teams promoted from AA. Did I read all those threads wrong?

 

"rush" is a loaded word, a tautology even. 

 

Bryce Harper, less than 37 non-rehab games in AA. Like I said, not that hard to find examples if you look. 

[tobi0040]

He is 25 now.

 

+ He gets one more shot up here to see if he is part of the team.

 

+ His window for playing time could be 60-90 days based on what Buxton is doing in AA.

 

+ The guys he would be replacing are not good and have a zero percent chance of being a solution here.

 

= bring him up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I'd be curious to know what, if any, adjustments Hicks has made against RHPs this year.

This. If Hicks has actually revised his swing and is getting results from it, then it might be time to starting considering a call-up. I wouldn't do it yet but maybe in a couple of weeks if he keeps it up.

 

If he still has hitches in his swing against RHP, he has no business being in Minnesota yet. I don't care if his OPS in Rochester is 1.200.

 

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me six times...