Aaron Hicks

[gunnarthor]

Really, many of the AA leaders ar 28? Wow, I had no idea. Hicks does appear to be improving during the year, that should always be the goal. I have moves from disappointed to slightly optimistic on him this year. The slg split is still high, but maybe it will close. I am als really happy with the stolen bases this year.

Six of the top seven players leading the EL in HR are between 25 and 28. 9 of the top 10 in OBP are between 25-28. MiLB has the league leaders but only qualified and without ages. Baseball reference has ages but a much more liberal cutoff. Still, it's something to go with.

[Mike Sixel]

Wow, just, wow. I had no idea that the leaders were that old in AA. That really changes my thoughts on some of the younger guys in AA (not just Twins).

[greengoblinrulz]

New Brits chris collabello..28...& evan bigley...26....are 1/2 in rbi in the lg

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

I just did some quick math (which is always subject to verification) and I come up with 20 players at Beloit older than Hicks, 18 players at Fort Myers older than Hicks and 22 players at New Britain older than him. The only ones with the RockCats younger than Hicks are Arcia and Hermsen. So I think the kid is doing all right.

[drjim]

Good to see him doing so well, very much a subtle breakout. He is added to the 40 man this summer, I imagine the plan will be to start him in the minors, but he is very much on pace to be up midseason next year. From all accounts he still is a plus defender in CF with a plus arm.

 

I had him at #2 going into the season, and he is now no worse than 5, which isn't really a knock on him as much as it is that the Twins now have 5 legitimately good hitting prospects, 6 if you want to count Harrison and 7 if you think Benson can come back.

[gunnarthor]

Well, not a lot has changed since the last update but Hicks has had a nice July and is now hitting .275/.365/.437 w/9 homers, a career high for him. His strike out rate is also at a career high - 22% - and his walk rate is at a low - 12%. But this might be a good thing. The knock on Hicks had been that he was too patient and looking for walks, now it seems he might be finding his pitch. His isolated power - .162 - is his best since rookie ball. He's certainly starting to have the season a lot of us were hoping for. His OPS by month has been .824 (April) .660 (May) .801 (June) .979 (July) so he's really had one bad month and three solid or better months. And his splits are continuing to improve so let's hope that this continues. If he keeps this up he should be back in the top prospect rankings again.

[greengoblinrulz]

after an argueably disappointing season by Sano, Hicks in some eyes may have repassed Miguel already. Both were in Beloit at age 19 & both struggled. Hopefully it doesnt take Miguel this long to see his talent take hold (has played well past since benching) as Hicks is now a verified prospect ready for the majors.....in 6wks.

[gunnarthor]

after an argueably disappointing season by Sano, Hicks in some eyes may have repassed Miguel already. Both were in Beloit at age 19 & both struggled. Hopefully it doesnt take Miguel this long to see his talent take hold (has played well past since benching) as Hicks is now a verified prospect ready for the majors.....in 6wks.

It might be a stretch to say Sano is having a disappointing season. From BA today:

 

(MPLS): Is Miguel Sano having a disappointing season?

 

Jim Callis: Not at all. He hasn't maintained his fast start, but he's showing tremendous power in the Midwest League at age 19. We knew coming in that he needed to make more contact and improve his defense, so that shouldn't be a surprise.

 

But, if Hicks doesn't crash in Aug, I do think he'll be a top prospect again. Probably not as high as Sano (sitting in the 20 range) but certainly in the top 100 again.

[greengoblinrulz]

It might be a stretch to say Sano is having a disappointing season. From BA today:

 

• (MPLS): Is Miguel Sano having a disappointing season?

Jim Callis: Not at all. He hasn't maintained his fast start, but he's showing tremendous power in the Midwest League at age 19. We knew coming in that he needed to make more contact and improve his defense, so that shouldn't be a surprise.

 

But, if Hicks doesn't crash in Aug, I do think he'll be a top prospect again. Probably not as high as Sano (sitting in the 20 range) but certainly in the top 100 again.

I said argueably....knew that would draw some harsh comments but he HAS been very good the past 20gms since the ASBreak.....thought it was from his mini/benching or injury (depends on who you believe).

 

Hicks stole his 21st base today tying his career high. Highs in HRs & SBs so far & on pace for highs in XBHs/runs/hits.

[righty8383]

Hicks just homered moments ago. Now 4-4 in the game with a HR, a double and 2 singles. Will get at least one more chance to try for that cycle. Have a day Aaron Hicks!

[gunnarthor]

Baseball America did a write up on Hicks today - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/07/aaron-hicks-showing-improvement-for-twins/

 

"Hicks, 22, is hitting .284/.379/.456 in 93 games for the Rock Cats, numbers that have been boosted by his .355/.459/.581 slash line in July and have brought his OPS up to eighth in the Eastern League. All of the tools and athleticism are still there for Hicks, it's just a matter of him showing he can string together at-bats like he has in July over the course of a full season. This past month has certainly been a positive sign"

[greengoblinrulz]

Curiously, Hicks started in LF Sunday for the first non-CF start since 2010 (12 in RF for Beloit that yr).

Could they be getting him used to other OF spots for a Sept recall (since Gardy would never play him in CF over Revere/Span)

[Mchans24]

I wish they would have traded Span just to get him out of CF! Revere tracks down so many more balls and Spans arm is so much better than Revere in RF! Now we're going to move a gold glove caliber talent in CF (Hicks) to LF for Span? I sure hope not!!

[DaveW]

Hicks will be manning CF in Target Field soon enough, they shouldn't displace Span this Sept for the hell of it.

[greengoblinrulz]

Hicks 1-4 w/bb run scored & 3SBs today. Now 5th in Eastern Lg in SB....leads lg in runs scored w/76 (one over Chris Hermann) & is 10th in Lg in OPS

[jokin]

Hicks 1-4 w/bb run scored & 3SBs today. Now 5th in Eastern Lg in SB....leads lg in runs scored w/76 (one over Chris Hermann) & is 10th in Lg in OPS

Has anyone run the numbers on the stolen base attempts organizationally? Has there been a recent franchise shift to a much more agressive stance on the base paths? Perhaps to prepare for a more team-speed approach and piranha-ball in 2013? (Goodbye Morneau and Span?)

[greengoblinrulz]

Hicks 1-4 w/bb run scored & 3SBs today. Now 5th in Eastern Lg in SB....leads lg in runs scored w/76 (one over Chris Hermann) & is 10th in Lg in OPS

Missed last inning....Hicks finished 1-5 & Hermann tied him with run scored w/76 and he's also 2nd in Eastern Lg in walks with 61

[gunnarthor]

Since the last update, Hicks has slightly increased his triple slash line to .278/.377/.466 and he's shown nice improvement in his plate discipline, too. His krate has fallen to 20% and his walk rate has increased to 13%. His ISO is .169. He has 27 SB in 37 chances (73%). And he now has an OPS above .800 from both sides of the plate. He's having a really nice year.

[greengoblinrulz]

Any way you cut it, his numbers look great. Ive been looking at em since his June (19th)return from his ankle injury.

49gms 60/185 .324/.429/.535 50runs 99TB 11doubles 6triples 6hr 25rbi 44k 33bb hbp 13/18sb

 

already career highs in triples/HR/RBI/SBs & is a wk away from highs in runs/hits/total bases/XBH....BAve & SLgg in full season yrs are a high also

[rickyhawaii]

Also showing hit skills from both sides of the plate, would like to see him get a cup of coffee this season. Much more upside than both Span and Revere.

[Seth Stohs]

#2 on this week's Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2012/2613883.html

[gunnarthor]

#2 on this week's Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2012/2613883.html

Yep, really nice season.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

A spot on the hot sheet definitely deserves it.

 

This looks like another first round pick that wont work out for the Twins.

[gunnarthor]

Hicks is continuing to hit well, improving a bit to .282/.380/.453. He has an OPS over .800 from both sides of the plate. TR apparently suggested that Hicks could be a September call up and, frankly he deserves it but I'm not sure where the at-bats would come from. They need to keep Span in CF to keep his trade value up during the offseason. Willingham isn't losing AB. If they did call up Arcia and Hicks (and Parmelee), they'd have to find some AB for them in RF with Revere. So, I guess we'll see. Anyhow, Hicks had a great season at AA and we should see him on top 100 lists again.

[DPJ]

Hicks is continuing to hit well, improving a bit to .282/.380/.453. He has an OPS over .800 from both sides of the plate. TR apparently suggested that Hicks could be a September call up and, frankly he deserves it but I'm not sure where the at-bats would come from. They need to keep Span in CF to keep his trade value up during the offseason. Willingham isn't losing AB. If they did call up Arcia and Hicks (and Parmelee), they'd have to find some AB for them in RF with Revere. So, I guess we'll see. Anyhow, Hicks had a great season at AA and we should see him on top 100 lists again.

 

Well Mauer, Willingham, Morneau and Doumit can sit on the bench a bit more late in the season. All 3 are gonna be around for a few more years so no shame is resting them more in September. That gives ample playing time to Parm, Hicks and Arcia.

[Mike Sixel]

I agree, no need for Doumit to play the rest of the year, really. but Morneau needs to keep playing for the tiniest chance they can deal him. No team is going to sit Willingham or Mauer more than 1-2 times a week the rest of the way, though. They are both on various leaderboards and needed for "attendance" purposes. So not sure how a team with this record can say this, but their best prospects might not see much time this September....which is hard to understand for a team with this record.

[DPJ]

I agree, no need for Doumit to play the rest of the year, really. but Morneau needs to keep playing for the tiniest chance they can deal him. No team is going to sit Willingham or Mauer more than 1-2 times a week the rest of the way, though. They are both on various leaderboards and needed for "attendance" purposes. So not sure how a team with this record can say this, but their best prospects might not see much time this September....which is hard to understand for a team with this record.

 

Morneau I can hear you on for trade value, but "attendance purpose" for Willingham and Mauer...come on. Sitting Willingham and Mauer is best for them as they've played a ton this season and best for the team as it gives the team a chance to look at some kids. Hell I'd sit Willingham now just so he has no chance to injury himself and kill his value.

[Shea]

This offseason needs to reflect a drastic overhaul!

 

Trade Willingham for a solid top 20 starting pitcher in the league.

Trade Span for a middle of the road starting pitcher

Trade Morneau (if you can) for young starting pitching for the minors

Trade Carroll for anything

 

Here's the lineup next year:

 

Revere - CF

Hicks - RF

Mauer - C

Arcia - LF

Parmalee - 1B

Plouffe - 3B

Florimon/Escobar - SS

Dozier - 2B

 

Pitching Rotation:

1.) Scott Diamond

2.) (Starter traded for Willingham)

3.) (Starter traded for Span)

4.) Hendricks/Hermson

5.) Kyle Gibson

 

Let's get this youth movement started and stop wasting time!

[Mike Sixel]

[quote name=DPJ;47991

Morneau I can hear you on for trade value' date=' but "attendance purpose" for Willingham and Mauer...come on. Sitting Willingham and Mauer is best for them as they've played a ton this season and best for the team as it gives the team a chance to look at some kids. Hell I'd sit Willingham now just so he has no chance to injury himself and kill his value.[/quote]

 

I agree with you, but I don't run the Twins....my post was a prediction of what the Twins would do.

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

Jim Callis chat from yesterday:

 

 

• Kevin (MN): Is Aaron Hicks a top 100 type at this point?
  

 

Jim Callis: With his tools and his bounceback year in Double-A, I bet he makes it when we do another Top 100 next spring.