Article: Can Aaron Hicks Be Fixed?

[MileHighTwinsFan]

I look at Aaron Hicks and see a physically impressive player with great potential - not completely unlike Lorenzo Cain.   

 

It was only this year - at age 28 - that Cain became a force to be reckoned with at the major league level. At age 25 - he had a cup of coffee in the majors and played sparingly at age 26.   Hicks is only 24 and already has far more exposure at the major league level than Cain did at the same age.

 

We do need to recognize that Hicks was thrust into this role by an amazing series of events where two major league CFs ahead of him were traded in a matter of weeks.  Otherwise, he would probably have a stat line like Cain's at his age.

 

Does the kid have issues - yes - but it seems far too soon to write him off - particularly when there are no other major league ready options and the team is still at least one year away from being serious contenders. 

 

I still hold out hope that Hicks will be a solid contributor when the Twins return to contention. 

 

As far as where he starts the year?  I see no reason at this point to send him to AAA.  He is too valuable defensively and has enough of a foundation at the major league level to build on.  

 

Give him the job in spring training - tell him it's his job until someone steps up and takes it from him - and stop with the journeyman centerfielders with strong gloves and below average bats.

Edited December 19, 2014 by MileHighTwinsFan

[DocBauer]

What Riverbrian stated 100%.

 

For the Twins to go in to 2015 with nothing more in place in CF than Hicks and Schafer, a pair of failed and failing prospects, with nothing else for contingency for a third straight season is beyond odd or frustrating, but borders on apathy or incompetence. There absolutely has to be a third option added to this mix.

[brvama]

I've always been partial to Hicks. but he is perplexing and I don't have a clue.  I do agree with Dantes about not sending him to AAA for the main reason of when/if he figures it out he will likely be a 4th OF.  It's time to see if he has it or not.

 

With his exposure to MLB pitching and with Hunter on board I think it be best to give him the job this spring in CF.  Platoon with Schafer on the tough RHP if you like, but give the bulk of time to Hicks.  By mid-season see what's there.  If he has improved great, if not send him down or packing. 

[Mike Sixel]

People keep typing he is a good MLB defender....that is not what I saw, heard on the radio, or see in the stats.....where do people get this idea?

[gunnarthor]

People keep typing he is a good MLB defender....that is not what I saw, heard on the radio, or see in the stats.....where do people get this idea?

I thought he passed the eye test in general but he did have some perplexing bad games where everything seemed to drop around him.  His arm is legit, for sure.  

[Parker Hageman]

People keep typing he is a good MLB defender....that is not what I saw, heard on the radio, or see in the stats.....where do people get this idea?

 

 

I think he is still has some things to work on but I tend to agree with Ryan's assessment of Hicks' defense in the Offseason Handbook

 

"[H]is defense and his throwing and his range and his jumps and his angles are pretty good. In fact, a lot of people will tell you it is better than pretty good."

 

I'm not confident the 480 innings in center this year tells us much in terms of UZR performance. Inside Edge's fielding stats are a little more favorable towards him. I would consider him a "good" defender. The problem is, the Twins need a "great" defender in the outfield to work between Arcia and Hunter.

[jokin]

The more I think about it, the more I believe the Twins will keep him in the majors. I'm guessing his locker will be next to Hunter's locker.

 

Barring a complete ST collapse, this scenario is spot on.

[nicksaviking]

People keep typing he is a good MLB defender....that is not what I saw, heard on the radio, or see in the stats.....where do people get this idea?

 

I'd guess much of it is based on who was around him.  It might be impossible to look bad when you're sandwiched between Willingham and Arcia.  By default you're the best outfielder on the field. 

 

Also, most of his mistakes seemed to be of the mental variaty.  People probably assume those can be corrected with coaching, experience, focus or repetition.  Same reason most people aren't closing the book on Arcia just yet.

[TheLeviathan]

"[H]is defense and his throwing and his range and his jumps and his angles are pretty good. In fact, a lot of people will tell you it is better than pretty good."

 

 

I am genuinely confused how anyone comes away with that positive of an assessment.

[tobi0040]

Barring a complete ST collapse, this scenario is spot on.

 

I agree that is what will happen.

 

If you read the history on Hicks and switch hitting, it is telling.  He hit right until he was about 11.  His Dad, who did not want him to play baseball made him take up switch hitting as a means of testing his desire for the sport. 

 

I don't know about you guys, but I was always right handed. If someone forced me at 11 to start hitting from the left side I would struggle big time. I don't ever think I would be competent, it is not my natural side.  Let alone ever be a competent professional from that side.

 

For my two cents, I bet he puts up better than a .548 OPS against righties if he batted from the right side, where he hits lefties to the tune of .750.   But the Twins keep forgetting to ask me. 

Edited December 19, 2014 by tobi0040

[Dr. Evil]

I wonder how well Rosario can play center field. I'm thinking it would be overly optimistic to think Buxton gets to the show this year but there is probably an outside chance it could happen. IDK I'm not too excited about Hicks/Schafer in center. I hope I'm wrong though.

[DJL44]

It is bizzare that they won't even call Colby Rasmus.

[jay]

There absolutely has to be a third option added to this mix.

What for? According to TR, Hunter could handle a few games there if needed. *ducks*

[ashbury]

I am genuinely confused how anyone comes away with that positive of an assessment.

Anyone?  An experienced and respected scout, albeit one who has an incentive to try to shore up whatever remaining trade value there may be?

[stringer bell]

I find this thread very interesting and I also see quite a divergence of opinion about Aaron Hicks.  First of all, as usual, an absolutely wonderful analysis of Hicks by Parker.  I think it is important to note that he isn't Miguel Cabrera from the right side either.  Let's also acknowledge that there are definite advantages to switch hitting and definite advantages to batting left handed.  At 25 years of age, one would have to be a really lousy left handed hitter to give up those advantages.  Also a word about Hicks' tools--he is regarded as a fast runner, but he isn't off-the-charts fast.  He had one good stolen base season, but otherwise hasn't been a huge threat on the bases.  The power hasn't developed either and last year I was truly disappointed with the lack of power he showed, he just didn't hit many balls hard--on a line, fly balls or grounders. 

 

I agree that a prospect (and I still consider Hicks to be one) should not be platooned, especially as the RH half of a job share. I wholeheartedly agree that for the player and the team, Hicks must be sent to Rochester to start the season.  Let him master a level he hasn't yet mastered, build his confidence, and if he is the best outfield option by sometime in May, bring him up. 

 

Regarding the lack of a Plan B, perhaps that is Danny Santana.  It could happen either way, if the current candidates can't perform at replacement level or if Santana struggles as a shortstop, then he could return to the outfield where he made real strides and hit very well.  I wouldn't rule out Rosario either.  It is still a long shot for him to make the club out of ST, but in my mind he should be rated on a par with Hicks, since Aaron has not proven very much as a major leaguer.     

[DocBauer]

I find this thread very interesting and I also see quite a divergence of opinion about Aaron Hicks.  First of all, as usual, an absolutely wonderful analysis of Hicks by Parker.  I think it is important to note that he isn't Miguel Cabrera from the right side either.  Let's also acknowledge that there are definite advantages to switch hitting and definite advantages to batting left handed.  At 25 years of age, one would have to be a really lousy left handed hitter to give up those advantages.  Also a word about Hicks' tools--he is regarded as a fast runner, but he isn't off-the-charts fast.  He had one good stolen base season, but otherwise hasn't been a huge threat on the bases.  The power hasn't developed either and last year I was truly disappointed with the lack of power he showed, he just didn't hit many balls hard--on a line, fly balls or grounders. 

 

I agree that a prospect (and I still consider Hicks to be one) should not be platooned, especially as the RH half of a job share. I wholeheartedly agree that for the player and the team, Hicks must be sent to Rochester to start the season.  Let him master a level he hasn't yet mastered, build his confidence, and if he is the best outfield option by sometime in May, bring him up. 

 

Regarding the lack of a Plan B, perhaps that is Danny Santana.  It could happen either way, if the current candidates can't perform at replacement level or if Santana struggles as a shortstop, then he could return to the outfield where he made real strides and hit very well.  I wouldn't rule out Rosario either.  It is still a long shot for him to make the club out of ST, but in my mind he should be rated on a par with Hicks, since Aaron has not proven very much as a major leaguer.

Excellent post!

 

Still talented, filled with a lot of potential, having shown at least some of that potential off previously in the minors, being rushed to the majors and then pulled and pushed about like Stretch Armstrong...and still only 25...there is no reason to give up on Hicks yet. For those who say he has nothing to learn or prove at the AAA level at this point, I'd say he hasn't proved anything at that level yet, and unless we're watching two completely different players in CF for the Minnesota Twins named Aaron Hicks, he hasn't proven he can play at the ML level enough to warrant any consideration there to be sure.

 

Again, talented and only 25, the smartest thing the Twins could do would be to make a move for a fill-in/stop gap CF...such as a member of the St Louis Cardinals that we have mentioned on several occasions...to a) help the 2015 ballclub be a nice role player on the bench when Buxton arrives c) remove pressure off Hicks and allow him to play a year in AAA, work on his game, gain/re-gain confidence, and rewind his career a bit in hopes that he can actually have one.

 

As far as the initial function of the post, breaking down his swing, I'm no Parker, but rolling of the foot or not, his hips and whole lower half seem to bail out before the ball even arrives as though Nolan Ryan were pitching and pi**ed off. How could you ever hope to drive the ball with any authority with that opening movement?

[TheLeviathan]

Anyone?  An experienced and respected scout, albeit one who has an incentive to try to shore up whatever remaining trade value there may be?

 

Should have added an "honest" next to that assessment.  

[dxpavelka]

If he wasn't handed the job last year, what was the other option, exactly?

 

He didn't HIT that well even in the minors. Who, here, said "give up on him".....and, the Twins did not give up on Gomez, they traded for a starting SS.

If you thought Gomez was going to be an all-star you don't make that deal.  There weren't a dozen Twins fans in the state who were sad to see him go either.  Most of those same people would love to see the Twins trade Hicks for a starting anything right now.

[ashbury]

Should have added an "honest" next to that assessment.  

You'll buy respected, but want honest specified too?      OK, consider it added.

 

Anyway, Ryan has been known to slip the needle, or at least damn with faint praise, so I'm inclined to take him at face value here.  I'm certainly not enough of a fundamentals scout, to try to dispute his words.

[gil4]

We used to have a platoon of Leius and Pags at 3rd.   Platoon of an outfield position actually makes a lot more sense since the being able to do more part includes late inning defensive or baserunning replacement which considering out outfield defense otherwise has a fair amount of value.     I am one of the few that would be fine if they just put him out there every day all season but being realistic and logical about it.   Its hard enough to hit major league pitching without it being from your non dominant side.   I never liked that he even started out being a switch hitter but with Buxton coming and possibly Rosario, if he goes down to work on his skills his callup will only be as 4th outfielder anyway.   I would think platoon is greater than 4th outfielder in terms of value and every team needs a 4th outfielder.  I get what you are saying though.  If the solution were clean cut we wouldn't be on here talking about it.      I have always like the idea of platooning one or two positions where it makes sense based on splits and this seems to be one of those cases. 

 

The Pags-Leius platoon we really only effective the one year.  In 1992 they stunk - when you put their OPS+ together it was 101, which would have been fine if you put them together by averaging rather than by adding 75 (Leius) and 26 (Pags.)  The real combined OPS+ was closer to 75 than 26 because Pags only had 108 PA due to injuries, but still, the race that year might have been interesting longer if they had repeated the '91 performance.  In 93 it was Leius' turn to get hurt - 10 games, 22 PA - and Pags got traded to the O's in August that year to break up the duo.

 

The 12 and 13 -man bullpens have really cut into the platooning possibilities, and the Twins really just hit on an ideal match in 1991.  In today's game, Leius would really have to play some SS and 2B, too (because there's no way Pagliarulo was going to do it.)  The platoon did help both, although it helped Pags more.  

Here are their 1991 PA & OPS both with and without the platoon advantage:  Pags - 374 PA/.712 OPS vs.19 PA/566 OPS   Leius - 161/.872  vs. 74/.640. 

Edited December 20, 2014 by gil4

[TheLeviathan]

You'll buy respected, but want honest specified too?      OK, consider it added.

 

Anyway, Ryan has been known to slip the needle, or at least damn with faint praise, so I'm inclined to take him at face value here.  I'm certainly not enough of a fundamentals scout, to try to dispute his words.

Perhaps Ryan's scale for good outfield defense is broken. For further evidence consider his Hunter comments.

[nater79a]

The more I think about it, the more I believe the Twins will keep him in the majors. I'm guessing his locker will be next to Hunter's locker.

 

Agree completely. The Twins didn't bring in Hunter just to turn around and send Hicks to Rochester.

[dxpavelka]

I think he is still has some things to work on but I tend to agree with Ryan's assessment of Hicks' defense in the Offseason Handbook

 

"[H]is defense and his throwing and his range and his jumps and his angles are pretty good. In fact, a lot of people will tell you it is better than pretty good."

 

I'm not confident the 480 innings in center this year tells us much in terms of UZR performance. Inside Edge's fielding stats are a little more favorable towards him. I would consider him a "good" defender. The problem is, the Twins need a "great" defender in the outfield to work between Arcia and Hunter.

I see a guy who CAN be a good defensive outfielder and in most situations is.  Again, I still think most of his issues start just below his hat.  I've spent a lot of time in my life working with young kids.  Each of  them responds differently to teaching/training/coaching/management.  Hopefully, the current staff will be the one able to get the message accross.

[ND-Fan]

I wonder if Hicks has reached point of where he needs fresh start with different organization. The problem with that for the Twins is that  they will get nothing for him. I wonder if somebody like Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or some other team couldn't fix him. I think his hitting has effected all of his game and now he's not playing very good baseball. The Twins trade of center fielders I believe in long run has been good the pitchers they have received could very well turn this franchise around. I believe we will see some of that this year when we get new pitching coaches and change in philosophy along with that from manager. The Twins have had several pitchers that were thought to be washed up and now have performed very well for Pittsburg. There organization has done wonderful job with Lariano and Worley in last couple of years the numbers speak for themselves. Also they were revaluating there organization after Mornea was there wondering why they couldn't get him to hit the way he was in Colorado. I have heard nothing of this from the Twins on their failures of Lariano or Worley and also Morneau. I think the Twins could be spending some time on this to as way to improve their team.

[jorgenswest]

Hicks is a useful player. He has a good arm. His acceptable CF play would be a plus on a corner. He had an OBP over 340. His career OPS against lefties is .758 (792 last year).

 

He is young and will get better even without fixing. He could platoon with Arcia right now and be valuable.

[HitInAPinch]

Honestly, I don't see anything in Hicks' past or present that says he will ever be a major league player.  Seriously, his swing from the left side is that bad and he got to the Majors?  IF management actually signed Tori Hunter to mentor Hicks, that's a pretty big waste of $10mil. There are coaches to do that.

 

At this point in time, Hicks belongs in the minors.  Good defense does not makeup for the bad attitude, horrible batting skills and apparently not taking direction from the coaching staff, i.e.  he decided on his own to stop switch hitting.  He deserves to be at AA, where Doug M. can get him back on course. 

[Paul Pleiss]

I think Aaron Hicks will play 120+ games at CF. He doesn't need to get fixed. He's a human being. Maybe an attitude adjustment, maybe just another chance. I don't know, but he'll play at the MLB level, and that makes him a major league player. Everyone loves to talk about how Torii is a great clubhouse guy and a mentor. If that's the case, then Hicks should be on the way to getting "fixed" (but not losing his balls like my poor dog, Alfred).

[gocgo]

Am I the only one watching that swing of Hicks from the left side and seeing sooo many flaws?  His weight is shifted early, his bottom half is bailing toward first like a left handed curve ball was thrown and his top half is desperately reaching to the third base slide.  He'd be lucky get a foul ball on that swing.  Granted, it is only one really bad swing, but if my 11 year old swung like that, I'd stop and correct him.

[toosweet64]

I think this is Aaron Hicks last chance to prove that he can play at the MLB level. I'm of the belief that Torii Hunter was offered considerably way more money to sign here rather than Texas and Hicks is the reason why. If I'm right Hicks is out of options, isn't even the future center or right fielder, and is on his last leg in the organization with his attitude.  If Torii cannot get him turned around, Hicks is done.  Plenty of other options remain for a future left fielder including Rosario, Kepler, Walker II, or even Travis Harrison.  Aaron, it's time to ^&*$ or get off the toilet dude. 

[darin617]

Lost cause. Never had it, so you can't fix what never existed.