Article: It's Time For Aaron Hicks

[Shane Wahl]

 

You admit that they have twice "royally messed up" his development, but are completely willing to buy into their assessment of his present readiness? 

 

I'm not making this argument based on 19 box scores. I'm making it based on the fact that he's quite clearly more talented than the current occupants, and he was a more valuable asset in the lineup even when struggling last year (at least he got on base), and they need to get another long look at him in the majors due to his options situation + other OFs coming up through the system. 

 

If you think his makeup or maturity or approach might still need work that's fine, I just don't see why we wouldn't want him working on those things under Molitor/Brunansky and alongside Hunter while also improving the quality of the MLB roster.

 

Haha, I didn't give your article a re-read to check, but do you find yourself wishing often that you would have written some of the stuff in the original article instead of in subsequent posts!? Probably a time-saver .

 

The last point is pretty important. And it makes me think that the Twins care less about his "head" than many Twins fans do.

[Shane Wahl]

Shane Robinson is Ben Revere lite at the plate. He is Ben Revere plus in the field simply because of routes and his arm. He is Ben Revere lite lite on the basepaths.

Correction.

 

But overall, still Ben Revere lite.

[ken]

Why all the support for Hicks?  Sure Schafer is hitting a very Hicks like .215 this year, but he did hit .285 last year and his defensive metrics were better than Hicks.  Schafer is starting to hit better and the Twins are winning.   

 

Make Hicks show he can produce longer than a month in AAA. If he end up being just a 4th outfielder, there is no reason to bring him up.  Schafer is not the answer, but don't fall in love with the player you thinks Hicks is and forget about the player he has shown to be.  Next year he is out of options, so if keeping him in the minors helps, you have to do it this year. 

[spinowner]

 

I'm for the bring Hicks up anytime soon sort of thing. When you're seeing the ball well - get after it.

 

I think Hicks offers more than Schafer or Robinson in terms of CF Defense and OBP. And on occasion, a better element of power. 

 

The other scenario, for me, as linking other concurrent discussions is NOT Buxton anytime soon. But rather another guy already on the 40-man roster. Jorge Polanco. That is, he would come up and then they'd move Santana to CF - which would also be an improvement over the Schafer/Robinson scenario.

No. No no no no no no no. Santana is the SS of the near future. Do not waste precious development time by making him play CF. We don't want him to play CF. We don't need him to learn to play CF. We have this prospect named Buxton who'll be there soon.

[mnfireman]

I think Hicks has done what has been asked of him after his little display of rebellion last summer. No offense ( ) to Mr.'s Schafer and Robinson, but Hicks has more upside than either of them at this point in any of their careers.

 

Bring the kid up. I don't think I could handle another one of our guys becoming a stud (or at least serviceable)for somebody else.

[SydneyTwinsFan]

Hicks is being held to a pretty high standard here.  Seriously, the kid is crushing AAA pitching right now, from the left and right sides.  .976 OPS is second in the IL, he's tied for the lead in XBH and hitting the ball with the authority that has really been missing in the last 2 years.  Over the past couple of seasons there has been a general clamour (which I have supported) for him to be sent down and earn his way back.  As of now, I'd say he's done just that.

[drivlikejehu]

 

The Twins seem to have a plan for Hicks. If that plan was to give him extended time in AAA, they need to follow through. Extended time might be June 1 or Memorial Day, but it is still too early now. I would have had him as a platoon 4th OF. Though I disagreed with their plan, I do believe they need to follow through. It is important to have a plan in developing players and not react to small samples.

 

You're giving the Twins a lot of credit for plans that almost certainly don't exist, but even so... Hicks is not just succeeding at AAA. Factoring in his position, he is the best player in the International League. He's utterly dominating the league offensively, with a RC+ over 180. A couple weeks isn't going to make any difference in his 'mental makeup' or whatever other dubious factors are supposedly keeping him in Rochester.

 

He's just too talented for that level of competition. If his intangibles are really that bad, the Twins should trade him. If they aren't, he should be with the Twins. Either way, Rochester is pointless. 

[JB_Iowa]

And now the title is correct. Apparently the F.O. agrees with you, Nick.

[ashbury]

And now the title is correct. Apparently the F.O. agrees with you, Nick.

They don't make a move without clearing it with the TD braintrust first.

[tobi0040]

Right on ash. I told Terry my guy says he is ready.

[twinsfan34]

 

No. No no no no no no no. Santana is the SS of the near future. Do not waste precious development time by making him play CF. We don't want him to play CF. We don't need him to learn to play CF. We have this prospect named Buxton who'll be there soon.

 

Just saying for Twins team value. 

 

Do you think Santana can beat out Polanco in 2016?

[PseudoSABR]

Prophetic thread, Nick.

[h2oface]

You called it, Nick Nelson!

[COtwin]

And all of the discussion is now moot. Good luck Aaron we are all rooting for you.

[ashbury]

And all of the discussion is now moot.

... until his first o-fer.

[laloesch]

Promote Buxton to AAA, cut Schaefer, keep Rosario in the bigs. 

[COtwin]

I hope people can have patience with him.  In reality this should be only his second season of coming up.  He would probably still be going through growing pains.  Hopefully people look at him through the lenses they are seeing Santana through right now.  They have things to work on.  You could argue that Santana is having a worse year (offensivley and defensively)  than Hicks had last year.  No one is shouting for Santana to go down.  Most are preaching patience, as they should.

Edited May 12, 2015 by COtwin