Worm Hunting

To be considered a prospect that will be drafted in the top-20 of any MLB Draft is quite a feat. Nearly everyone cannot accomplish that on natural talent alone. It takes an extreme amount of sweaty labor that most people would not, or could not, endure. I want to hope beyond all hope that Aaron Hicks turns out just like Dennis Rodman.

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I’m sure your blood is boiling after reading that last sentence. So, please, allow me to explain this nonsense. One of my favorite winners of all-time is Dennis Rodman. The Worm! He could dominate a basketball game without scoring. Who does that? Nobody really does that, its exceptional to Dennis. Check it out y’all:

What many casual Rodman fans may not be aware of, is that Dennis was a very late bloomer. Wikipedia says Rodman was 5’6 as a freshman in high school, but grew to be about 6’6 as a 20-year-old JUCO player. Amazing, eh? I am hoping Aaron Hicks resembles the entertainer and defensive-minded winner that Rodman was. But I hope not for the lifestyle and the wedding dress.

Hicks was drafted 14^th overall in 2008 out of a California high school. Another high school center-fielder, Torii Hunter, was taken 20^th overall in 1993. That is hardly where the comparison ends.

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Torii was an ultra-toolsy 1^st rounder with everything a Puckett-replacement would need to navigate the minor leagues. But he struggled, and he spent three years at AA with very Hicks-like statistics (not much power). In fact, Hicks’ 2012 numbers were better than anything Hunter did in three seasons at New Britain.

I was just a little guy when Torii Hunter was drafted, but I still remember thinking, “Six years!” after reading how long the experts thought he would take to arrive in Minnesota. Back then, six years seemed like an eternity.

I wonder what type of MLB projections people had for Torii while he was struggling to figure out AA pitching? He may have been tabbed as a guy that would never hit .290 in a full MLB season. But Hunter surprised many by blossoming into a power-hitting 9-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Can we expect Hicks to follow suit as a late bloomer, a la Rodman and Hunter? Will he become the next Twins CF to possess a Gold Glove? We just don’t know right now. But Torii has proven that it can happen LATE for a 5-tool prospect. And Rodman has proven that high-level defenders can win and entertain at an elite level. Here’s to hoping the best for Hicks, and the Twins!

See Hicks here: http://www.milb.com/search/media.jsp?sid=milb&text=aaron+hicks&x=-1149&y=-218

I really like Benson. I think he could be serviceable this year. I actually would rather see him start in CF, than Mastro...but Darin could change my mind with a good spring.

Agreed. Hicks has a much higher ceiling than both Benson and Mastro. But why rush Hicks when he can stay in AAA til June, and secure another year of team control.

Arcia is a better all -around hitter, but Hicks and Oswaldo will both serve vital roles in the 2014 line-up.