Aaron Hicks

Aaron Michael Hicks was born on October 2, 1989 in San Pedro, California.

The Minnesota Twins selected him 14th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft out of high school. He blossomed into one of the best prospects in baseball, peaking at 19 on the Baseball American preseason top 100 in 2010. Hicks was named the Twins starting center fielder on Opening Day in 2013, despite having never played a game at Triple-A.

He struggled as a rookie, batting .192 with eight home runs and 27 RBI over 81 games. Hicks struggled again in 2014, batting .215 with one home run and eight RBI across 69 games. He temporarily gave up switch hitting during the 2014 season after losing confidence in his left handed swing, but resumed switch hitting a month later.

Minnesota optioned him to Triple-A at the start of 2015, choosing journeyman Jordan Schafer as their Opening Day starter. They called up Hicks in mid-May, but sent him back down to the minors a month later when super prospect Byron Buxton was deemed ready to debut. Buxton went on the disabled list with a thumb strain after just ten games, and Hicks was called back up to serve as the Twins everyday center fielder.

Hicks had a breakout stretch with Buxton on the disabled list, hitting .346 with a 1.001 OPS during the month of July. This caused the Twins to keep Buxton in Triple-A when his rehab assignment was over. Buxton was eventually called up in September, and Hicks started to play more right field. Veteran Torii Hunter began to play designated hitter, in what was ultimately the final month of his career. Hicks finished the season slashing .256/.323/.398 in 97 games.

The Twins entered the ensuing off-season with a crowded outfield, even with the retirement of Hunter. Along with Buxton, Eddie Rosario had emerged as a starting caliber left fielder. Max Kepler had been Southern League (AA) Player of the Year, and made his Major League debut as a September call-up late in the year. Minnesota wound up trading Hicks to the New York Yankees for catcher John Ryan Murphy.

Hicks regressed back to his 2013-14 self during his first season in New York, posting a .617 OPS in 123 games. His long term breakout came over the next several seasons, slashing .247/.362/.457 between 2017 and the COVID shortened 2020 campaign. Injuries and ineffectiveness began to slow Hicks down after that. The Yankees designated him for assignment on May 20, 2023. Hicks still had two and a half years left on a seven year deal he had signed during spring training in 2019. New York had to eat the remaining $28 million that was still left on his deal.

The Baltimore Orioles signed Hicks for the league minimum. He slashed .275/.381/.425 in 65 games for them, helping Baltimore win their first AL East crown since 2014. Hicks signed a league minimum deal with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024, but was designated for assignment after playing in just 18 games.

As of 2025, Hicks is still a free agent and has not officially announced his retirement. He is an avid golfer who won many high profile youth tournaments, before getting drafted by the Twins. Hicks is married to LPGA Tour golfer Cheyenne Woods, who is the niece of golf legend Tiger Woods.

• 2015 Charles O. Johnson Award
  • Most improved Twins player