Article: Aaron Hicks Is Striding In The Right Direction

[Parker Hageman]

After a season and a half of floundering against right-handed pitching, Minnesota Twins’ outfielder Aaron Hicks made the decision to stop switch-hitting and bat exclusively from the right side. Several pitches later, the outfielder admitted he made a huge mistake and went back to swinging from both sides.With right-handed pitchers accounting for 70 to 75 percentage of all plate appearances each year, it was clear that in order to have success at the major league level Hicks was going to have to figure out a way to get hits off of them. The decision to stop hitting left-handed -- even for a brief stint -- was an acknowledgment that he was overmatched and lost at the plate. The brief experiment of hitting from the right-side only fizzled out not because his swing was bad but because Hicks realized that it is difficult to track professional-grade pitches from a perspective he had not seen since he was 15-years-old. The decision to return to switch-hitting was an admission that he would never going to be able to have success facing same-side matchups.

 

If he was going to overcome this deficiency, it was going to be as a left-handed hitter -- which would be no small task. Earlier in the offseason Hicks’ shortcomings at the plate were highlighted at Twins Daily. His left-handed swing mechanics were such that he would open on his front side well before the point of contact, leaving him unable to generate power or handle pitches on the outer half of the zone.

 

From both sides of the plate, Hicks has good bat speed. He has decent size and seemingly adds more muscle with each passing offseason. In theory he should be able to provide pop. In practice, however, he has not. According to ESPN/TruMedia, of all left-handed hitters with a minimum of 100 plate appearances, Hicks’ .078 hard hit average was the 7th lowest. For perspective, the light-hitting Ben Revere managed to post a .115 hard hit average. On the other end of the spectrum was Kennys Vargas whose .230 hard hit average from the left side was only bested by David Ortiz and Victor Martinez.

 

It seemed obvious that if Hicks is going to provide even league-average level production at the plate, he was going to need to make some wholesale changes -- maybe a timing mechanism or a complete rebuild. Turns out, that is exactly what he is doing.

 

During the first spring training game against the Red Sox, Twins’ broadcaster Cory Provus mentioned that Hicks had been working on incorporating a leg kick in his left-handed swing. Indeed, Hicks had swapped out the old toe-tap for the bigger leg kick:

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/79XVELf.gif

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZCwTyrE.gif

 

For Hicks, the new model is a much better swing. What does that mean going forward?

 

Hitters like Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson are the poster players for the argument for the pro-leg kick contingent. Donaldson, a hitter who used to have a toe-tap much like Hicks, found that the leg kick helped his timing and his ability to generate power. While productive if a hitter can master it, there are times when the leg kick can become a detriment if everything else is not working in unison. Cubs’ prospect Mike Olt felt his big leg kick was hindering his bat path so he has cut down on the height in order to make other aspects of his swing work. Likewise, Robinson Cano had a leg kick coming up in the Yankees system but eschewed that for his current model. There is no one-size-fits-all swing mechanics.

 

For Hicks, there are still plenty of moving parts to his approach at the plate including the mental side. Confidence, or lack thereof, was cited by manager Paul Molitor as one of the reasons Hicks has struggled so mightily at the plate. And what about away from the plate? So far this spring Hicks, according to the Star Tribune’s Phil Miller, was picked off of first and second in the same inning (but the play at first was ruled a balk). Meanwhile on Tuesday, Hicks had another baserunning gaffe when he forgot the situation and stopped halfway on an inning-ending fly ball to the outfield. Molitor yanked him from the game.

 

 

Hicks, to his credit, is putting in the work and demonstrating that he wants to improve his game. Nevertheless, Byron Buxton has looked the part of a MLB-ready center fielder but after the lost year that was 2014 the Twins will rightfully send him down for more seasoning. If the speedy footsteps of Mr. Buxton looking to take the position does not provide extra motivation for Hicks in 2015, who knows what will.

 

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[Paul Pleiss]

Aaron Hicks will find success in 2015 and have a better average and on base percentage than Dozier. If only he could get that slugging percentage up a bit more too.

 

Go Hicks!

[Shane Wahl]

It really is going to come around for Hicks this year. I am predicting a .730 OPS, which is a fantastic improvement over what we have seen so far.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I will make the opposite prediction. It's the first two weeks of spring and he's already making mental gaffes. To me that's a sign he won't have the discipline to maintain his gains and will (again) start to lose interest when things get tough. I'm sure he's a great guy but he's not going to make it in MLB (would be happy to be wrong, etc). Give Schafer the first chance to hold the CF spot instead.

[highlander]

I'm, ROOT, ROOT, ROOTING for Hicks to win the CF job. He has the tools to be an asset. In some ways he reminds me of that beautiful mansion on the hill. Immaculately groomed lawn, landscaping to please the eye, big house with the lights on and nobody home.

[KGB]

 

I will make the opposite prediction. It's the first two weeks of spring and he's already making mental gaffes. To me that's a sign he won't have the discipline to maintain his gains and will (again) start to lose interest when things get tough. I'm sure he's a great guy but he's not going to make it in MLB (would be happy to be wrong, etc). Give Schafer the first chance to hold the CF spot instead.

This is also my concern, he seems to have all the physical gifts but I'm not sure he is ever going to pull them together. The Twins really need him to be a player given their lack of ready major league outfielder, but his mental approach reduces my hope for him.

[Platoon]

I thought he was going to be ok, but after yesterday I don't know. Some guys just never have the concentration and desire to use their physical talents to the max. I am beginning to think Hicks is one of those. Btw, kudos to Molitor for jerking him if he is out there half asleep!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Rooting for him too, but I really think he needs to prove it in AAA when the season begins. Let him build some confidence before throwing him into the fire... again.

[tobi0040]

I am rooting for the kid too, but the way I see it he needs to prove he is a MLB corner OF by June or July this year.  At that time I think Buxton is our CF for the next 10 years or so.  Accomplishing that would be a huge improvement upon the guy we have seen the last two years.

 

I also see Rosario as more of a natural hitter than Hicks and the two are very much in competition for a coner spot moving forward.

[Halsey Hall]

As far as yesterday's blunder, there was 2 outs and Hicks on first.  He didn't run on Escobar's fly out.  He went half way and stopped, thinking there was only one out, as the scoreboard showed.  No excuse though, he should have known. 

[70charger]

As far as yesterday's blunder, there was 2 outs and Hicks on first.  He didn't run on Escobar's fly out.  He went half way and stopped, thinking there was only one out, as the scoreboard showed.  No excuse though, he should have known. 

 

A. Knowing that the scoreboard was showing the incorrect information makes me think it was less "asleep at the switch" and more "responding to the information given."

 

B. He's still a professional paid to play the game. He should know what the situation is regardless of what the scoreboard says. The scoreboard is for people like me, not people like him.

[jay]

We know that more prospects turn in to busts than All-Stars. I hope to be wrong, but I do believe Mr. Hicks is headed for the former.

 

Few prospects in the history of MLB have been able to become successful regulars after the size of struggle he's had at the MLB level.

[Dr. Evil]

I would let him play AAA until he starts hitting some line drives on a more consistent basis. I like the tweek from a toe tap to a leg kick. In the video it looks like he is ooordinating all of his body movements better instead of his hips flying open early snd flipping the barrel of the bat at the ball. I think he should stand taller I the box too. Kind of like Griffey and Justice and Strawberry.

[Mike Sixel]

Ugh. Baserunning gaffes, running into the wall.....maybe he has a "baseball IQ" issue.

[mikelink45]

His mental approach to the game is the reason for not putting his natural athleticism into play.  Thinking about hitting, not thinking about baserunning, not knowing the outs means he is in a cloud.  Can the old mentor cut through this?  The body has all the right assets - speed, balance...  Come on Torii - do your job.

[HitInAPinch]

This is a very good thing!  That toe-tap was really messing him up, especially from the left side.  The leg kick keeps him from leaning away from the pitch.  Will it help him like it help Kirby Puckett?  I really hope so!

 

It's the mental side that I'm still concerned about.  That gaffe yesterday is not a good sign and Molitor did the right thing. 

[nicksaviking]

I am definately pro-leg kick.  He had timing and contact issues with the toe-tap, if he's going to miss anyway, why not at least try to generate more power in the few times he happens to make solid contact.

[TheLeviathan]

I love what they are trying to do to help fix his issues!

 

Now do it in AAA to start the season.  Let it WORK for him for awhile and then bring it up to the big dance.

[VandyTwinsFan]

I quickly forgot it in the excitement of reading the article, but well done on the title.

[gunnarthor]

I think he makes the team out of ST but I'd rather he worked on things in AAA.  It just seems that, at this point, expecting good things out of Hicks isn't a great idea.  I understand that he's probably just a place folder for Buxton but I really had hoped he'd be a regular for us.  Letting him get things straightened out in AAA with less pressure on him seems like a better idea.  

 

If one wants to be optimistic, he did hit well in the minors after his demotion and managed a .340 OBP last year, which isn't horrible (although everything else was).  It does seem that he's this close to making things work but just can't get there. Maybe Molitor and Bruno and a different ML atmosphere help him.  But it sure would be nice if got it all together.

[gmarais66]

During the offseason, Ryan eluded to the fact that Rosario would be given a chance in centerfield. Hicks is a head case... I say send Hicks to Rochester and make him earn his way back to the Twins. Give Rosario a shot... From what I've seen of him, he seems like a much better all-around player. Schafer is just another No. 4 outfielder, who has no business being a starter at the major league level... I think he's a good bench player, but that's it...

[Shane Wahl]

Rosario has almost no success at AA. Hicks is improving. It isn't his fault that the Twins rushed him a full 1.5 seasons too early.

[bird]

I'm a bit humored by the fact that Molitor is receiving praise (rightly so) for taking an action that, when Gardy did the same, he was ridiculed mercilessly for throwing Hicks under the bus. Enjoy the honeymoon, Paulie.

[mnfireman]

I don't think Molitor is throwing anybody under the bus. Sounds more like a system of accountability being put in place, something Gardy didn't have. If you were one of his boys and toed the imaginary line he laid out, you were good. If not, look out for the tires!! I don't see that with Molitor, so far anyways.

[gunnarthor]

 

I'm a bit humored by the fact that Molitor is receiving praise (rightly so) for taking an action that, when Gardy did the same, he was ridiculed mercilessly for throwing Hicks under the bus. Enjoy the honeymoon, Paulie.

Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing.  Molitor urged the FO to sign Hunter and benched a player for not hustling.  Sounds a lot like Gardy.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I'm a bit humored by the fact that Molitor is receiving praise (rightly so) for taking an action that, when Gardy did the same, he was ridiculed mercilessly for throwing Hicks under the bus. Enjoy the honeymoon, Paulie.

 

I'm really not sure you're making a fair comparison.  Molitor didn't volunteer that information, he was asked directly and made a short, to the point comment.

 

Gardy's problem was that he would go out of his way to call out rookie mistakes in the media (even, to my memory, unprompted) while the same thing wasn't done to other players.  If others start making base-running gaffes and Molitor is inconsistent with his handling, I'll have a problem with that too.  

 

Everyone wants the manager to hold players accountable, that wasn't Gardy's problem.  It was the tact and consistency with which he did it.  Jury is still out on Molitor, so your analogy really doesn't work yet.

[nicksaviking]

I don't mind sending Hicks to AAA.

 

Of course if the team does so and Schaffer performs to any degree of competance, there's a pretty solid chance Rosario or Buxton play well enough to beat Hicks to the big club.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I don't mind sending Hicks to AAA.

 

Of course if the team does so and Schaffer performs to any degree of competance, there's a pretty solid chance Rosario or Buxton play well enough to beat Hicks to the big club.

 

So be it.  No one, with a straight face, can say Aaron Hicks hasn't been given more opportunity than he's earned to this point.  It's about time he played his way into a job.

Edited March 11, 2015 by TheLeviathan

[jay]

During the offseason, Ryan eluded to the fact that Rosario would be given a chance in centerfield. Hicks is a head case... I say send Hicks to Rochester and make him earn his way back to the Twins. Give Rosario a shot... From what I've seen of him, he seems like a much better all-around player. Schafer is just another No. 4 outfielder, who has no business being a starter at the major league level... I think he's a good bench player, but that's it...

I agree with the assessment of Hicks and Schafer.

 

I'd disagree on Rosario. In hindsight, most think it was detrimental to Hicks to throw him into CF for 2013 -- so why do the same now to a guy that has shown less than Hicks did at that point? Hicks could at least say he had AA success on his resume.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm a bit humored by the fact that Molitor is receiving praise (rightly so) for taking an action that, when Gardy did the same, he was ridiculed mercilessly for throwing Hicks under the bus. Enjoy the honeymoon, Paulie.

Gardy's problem was consistency. I don't have a problem pulling Hicks in that situation. I'd want him to do it to Hunter too if it was Hunter making the gaffes. Gardy would not do that. He'd also turn around and bunch the rookie in favor of the vet doing the same thing for days. A good policy and consistent enforcement is what I'd like to see here.