Article: It's Time For Aaron Hicks

[biscuit]

I don't know if Hicks is ready. The list is long of players who ate it up at AAA, but who just couldn't do the job in the bigs.  But I'm pretty sure Schafer is ready to go elsewhere.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

And why cant Robinson be part of the future, not all players need to be 28 and under....

I don't think anyone has suggested cutting Robinson.  Robinson could certainly remain as a 4th OF for now, and perhaps continue in that role indefinitely.

 

Neither one needs to start to be further evaluated (and even contribute) in that role, though.

[tobi0040]

 

Yep, so when he has mastered AAA they should call him up.  I guess I don't count a month as proof that he has it mastered or that he has nothing left to gain from playing in AAA.

 

Ordinarily, I would agree with you and keep him down another 2-4 weeks.  But with the Buxton dynamic, literally being as close as 30-45 days away I bring Hicks up now.

[Loosey]

I personally think Hicks is ready to be promoted.  However, both the Twins and fans need to temper expectations to a degree.  He shouldn't be expected to put up his AAA stats in the Majors.  If you look at his trend in his career in the minors he usually gets moved up when he excels at a level then seemingly struggles a bit before adjusting and playing better.  That said this is by far his best season to date and he is playing at the highest level he has played outside of the 2 short stints with the Twins. Perhaps he has "figured it out". Either way, if he can come up here hit .270/.330/.400 i would say that is a great success and something to build on as well as an improvement over what is currently in CF for the Twins.  If he comes up and hit a .200/.250/.300 or something with regular playing time it may be time to move on, but give him enough time to sink or swim. 

[Nick Nelson]

 

If the professional evaluators in the organization think he's turned the corner, I'm on board.  19 boxscores, no matter how good, don't sell me on this particular guy.  I've seen enough of that with him.  And I damn sure don't decide his future based on anything to do with Schaefer.  That's a really poor way to develop players.

Are they really still developing him though? He's 25 and he's got almost 1500 plate appearances in the majors + high minors. I'd say at this point they're in more of an evaluative stage, and I simply don't see how they can properly evaluate him while he's handling Triple-A pitching.

 

What is the risk in bringing him up? If he can't hack it in an extended opportunity this time around I think you know all you need to know. And at least then you're making an actual effort to field a competent starter in center.

[Linus]

 

Are they really still developing him though? He's 25 and he's got almost 1500 plate appearances in the majors + high minors. I'd say at this point they're in more of an evaluative stage, and I simply don't see how they can properly evaluate him while he's handling Triple-A pitching.

 

What is the risk in bringing him up? If he can't hack it in an extended opportunity this time around I think you know all you need to know. And at least then you're making an actual effort to field a competent starter in center.

While I am advocating leaving him down for a little while longer, I do agree with you that there comes a point where you bring him up for an extended period of time and he just has to do it.  If he can't cut it, then we switch to a stance of "he is what he is" and will serve as a 4th OF that can play all three positions.

[blairpaul715]

 

I don't think anyone has suggested cutting Robinson.  Robinson could certainly remain as a 4th OF for now, and perhaps continue in that role indefinitely.

 

Neither one needs to start to be further evaluated (and even contribute) in that role, though.

Little out of context as i was responding to someone saying he isnt part of the future, when all i was saying is he or someone like him is needed on a team to fill the 24th or 25th man role. But I also understand that he doesnt need to be evaluated.........I will go on record and say, that I thought bringing up Hicks at the time, was slightly premature(i was wrong, way premature) but I thought he would develop while being given time at the MLB level, he didnt...........But now that it didnt work, i am more than happy for him to regain confidence before returning to the majors, if it is next week or middle of June, i am fine with it......I just want it to be for good next time he is up......I think we all want the same thing, just we differ on how we start or get there

[blairpaul715]

I will say , i am excited about the possibilties of LF Rosario, CF Buxton, RF Hicks, or if not Hicks, Arcia.

2016 Lineup.

1 Buxton

2 Dozier

3 Mauer

4 Plouffe

5 Vargas or Arcia

6 Rosario

7 Suzuki

8 Hicks

9 Santana

Bench: Escobar, backup catcher, Robinson

[Vanimal46]

Unlike Byron Buxton who I am all for an aggressive approach to get him to the majors ASAP, I am completely fine with this conservative approach with Hicks. Maybe I would feel differently if the Twins have not already given him extended time and opportunities with the team over the last 2 seasons. He may only be a AAAA type of player who never really gets it figured out at the MLB level. I'd let him be the star of AAA for the time being, and if he continues to play this for a few more months, I'd like to see him in August/September

[Thegrin]

IN 2013 he didn't hit and wouldn't prepare himself for the days game. They sent him to AAA and didn't recall him in September. Last year he was futile at the plate, arrived late to at least one game. still didn't prepare himself was sent to AA and he decided to STOP switch hitting (which he had done all his life).  Several weeks later Rod Carew convinced him to resume switch hitting. This is one VERY confused young man,  Finally, this Spring Training he continued to be unprepared and not paying attention.  I hope he hits so well that someone will trade for him. I hope he never again puts on a Twins uniform.  Let he be someone else's problem. 

[TheLeviathan]

Agreed.  But counting on Schafer when you are holding Hicks to such a high standard is also a really poor way to assemble a ballclub.

That mistake was made in the offseason, no reason to double down on it now.

[Shane Wahl]

I am not going to sift through this all after my initial post. I do think that those concerned about Hicks' long-term role might want to consider the possibility that it is Oswaldo Arcia who will be traded (along with either Vargas or Pinto) by Aug. 1 2016 at the latest. Rosario-Buxton-Hicks could be sick defensively if the offensive production is there. Kepler, Walker, Harrison, and Ortiz add potential OF depth (with 1B too, in the case of Kepler for certain, and maybe Walker and Harrison eventually).

[Mike Sixel]

Don't forget, there is smallest chance Sano is your RF some day.....but I don't see it right now.

 

I am waffling on my stance, I think THEY will wait at least 2 more weeks, but I think I'd just do it now.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Are they really still developing him though? He's 25 and he's got almost 1500 plate appearances in the majors + high minors. I'd say at this point they're in more of an evaluative stage, and I simply don't see how they can properly evaluate him while he's handling Triple-A pitching.

 

What is the risk in bringing him up? If he can't hack it in an extended opportunity this time around I think you know all you need to know. And at least then you're making an actual effort to field a competent starter in center.

 

They should be.  They royally messed up the development process not once but twice, I think they are trying to right that wrong.  We need to let go of all these PAs in the big leagues and consider them what they were: the mistakes of a poor plan.  

 

The risk in bringing him up is that if he fails he's a 4th OF and possibly a DFA before September.  Keeping him down and making sure he's ready to step in and claim RF/LF or CF until Buxton comes up makes him a legitimate contributor to the future.  4th OF?  Meaningless.  After thought.  I consider that to be a wide gulf in upside and certainly one worthy of considering a high risk.  

 

The time to field a competent CF was back in December.  Or, hell, two years ago.  Those mistakes aren't undone by calling up a non-ready Hicks.  Considering they just bypassed him for Rosario tells me that they don't think that his game is ready.  Nothing has changed that drastically in the last few days, which reinforces the point many are making here:  this is about his approach as a professional.  That might include his maturity and his approach at the plate, but we need to stop using 19 box scores to proclaim readiness.  Hicks is not at that stage in his career and until the Twins feel like he's ready as a professional, he should stay down there - box scores be damned.

 

If you want to bemoan the crappy CF situation - blame the GM for that.  Not on when Hicks gets called up.

[Shane Wahl]

For Robinson lovers, keep in mind that he is coming down to earth and is what he always has been--Ben Revere lite. 

 

I don't want that around in 2016, at all. And Schafer should already be gone.

[Nick Nelson]

 

They should be.  They royally messed up the development process not once but twice, I think they are trying to right that wrong.  

 

...

 

Considering they just bypassed him for Rosario tells me that they don't think that his game is ready.  

You admit that they have twice "royally messed up" his development, but are completely willing to buy into their assessment of his present readiness? 

 

I'm not making this argument based on 19 box scores. I'm making it based on the fact that he's quite clearly more talented than the current occupants, and he was a more valuable asset in the lineup even when struggling last year (at least he got on base), and they need to get another long look at him in the majors due to his options situation + other OFs coming up through the system. 

 

If you think his makeup or maturity or approach might still need work that's fine, I just don't see why we wouldn't want him working on those things under Molitor/Brunansky and alongside Hunter while also improving the quality of the MLB roster.

[h2oface]

The sooner we get Hicks up here for Hunter to mentor him now, the better. A month of mentorship has already been wasted. Hopefully, Buxton by July. Time waits for no one.

[h2oface]

 

For Robinson lovers, keep in mind that he is coming down to earth and is what he always has been--Ben Revere lite. 

 

I don't want that around in 2016, at all. And Schafer should already be gone.

The arm and accuracy that Robinson has shown is nowhere close to Ben Revere lite. One doesn't have to be a Robinson lover to have noticed that and give him his dues. Robinson has great routes to the ball, which Schafer does not, and neither did Ben. Ben consistently hits for a much higher average, and his arm is a noodle. What examples to you have that Robinson is anything like Ben Revere?

I am not advocating for Robinson to be kept longer than needed, but I say Schafer is the first to be replaced, then Robinson. Both should be gone as Hicks, Buxton, and Rosario are brought up to stay.

[Hrbowski]

Who would we send down? I don't think that Schafer has done anything to deserve to be sent down, and the Twins are winning, so do you really want to change a clubhouse that has a good chemistry? Really the only thing that I would approve of is no more starts in the outfield for Escobar, send down Bernier, and use Hicks as a 4th outfielder who gets fairly significant playing time from all the outfield positions. Buxton could also force our hand soon, and Shane Robinson is hitting .315, so it seems like the Twins actually have a good problem. Oh, and by the way, Eduardo Nunez actually hit well in the limited at bats he got, so when Arcia and Nunez come off the DL, that will be another thing for the Twins to deal with. It might be fun to see Hicks and Hunter play together, though.

[Hrbowski]

 

The arm and accuracy that Robinson has shown is nowhere close to Ben Revere lite. One doesn't have to be a Robinson lover to have noticed that and give him his dues. Robinson has great routes to the ball, which Schafer does not, and neither did Ben. Ben consistently hits for a much higher average, and his arm is a noodle. What examples to you have that Robinson is anything like Ben Revere?

I am not advocating for Robinson to be kept longer than needed, but I say Schafer is the first to be replaced, then Robinson. Both should be gone as Hicks, Buxton, and Rosario are brought up to stay.

What if they play better than Hicks, Buxton, and Rosario? For quite some time I have considered Robinson to be one of the best bench players in baseball, and if he still is we should keep him for 2016. We should not have Buxton and Rosario on the bench.

[Mike Sixel]

Wait, don't send down Schafer because the Twins are winning? That is a very bad logical fallacy. Schafer has done nothing to show he belongs on a MLB roster, nothing at all.

 

All these SSS stats about him and Robinson are highly amusing, given how people are posting on the Suzuki thread.....

[TheLeviathan]

 

You admit that they have twice "royally messed up" his development, but are completely willing to buy into their assessment of his present readiness? 

 

I'm not making this argument based on 19 box scores. I'm making it based on the fact that he's quite clearly more talented than the current occupants, and he was a more valuable asset in the lineup even when struggling last year (at least he got on base), and they need to get another long look at him in the majors due to his options situation + other OFs coming up through the system. 

 

If you think his makeup or maturity or approach might still need work that's fine, I just don't see why we wouldn't want him working on those things under Molitor/Brunansky and alongside Hunter while also improving the quality of the MLB roster.

 

You're right, they may once again have it screwed up.  But at least it's a different kind of screw-up I guess if that's the case.  But neither of us know that.

 

My bigger issue is  that you are basing far too much of your argument on Schaefer and not Hicks.  Schaefer is irrelevant.  His play is irrelevant to what is right for Hicks.  If Plouffe gets hurt tomorrow and Sano isn't ready, you want them calling him up too?  I would hope not.  Prospect development should be independent of major league roster developments.  (Good and bad) I just cannot disagree more strongly with the logic that a bungling of the current CF situation requires us to bypass what is right for Hicks in order to fix it.  That's compounding the problem if Hicks isn't ready.

 

They can get a long look at him if he comes up in June too.  The problem is if this is "too soon" then it's over for Hicks.  I'm just not ready to give up on him yet and I don't think he's sufficiently worked on what they want from him or he'd be up already.  So good for the Twins being patient and finally putting his development in front of their MLB needs.  At least that's how I see it.

Edited May 11, 2015 by TheLeviathan

[jorgenswest]

The Twins seem to have a plan for Hicks. If that plan was to give him extended time in AAA, they need to follow through. Extended time might be June 1 or Memorial Day, but it is still too early now. I would have had him as a platoon 4th OF. Though I disagreed with their plan, I do believe they need to follow through. It is important to have a plan in developing players and not react to small samples.

[spinowner]

 

Prospect development should be independent of major league roster developments.

A finer point cannot be put on it. This is the crux of the matter. The Twins (and judging by the number of posts on this thread the vast majority of posters to this board) want and need Aaron Hicks to fully realize his considerable potential. Some players benefit from being pushed too fast and some don't. It seems pretty clear to me that Hicks is in the latter category. If what's best for Hicks means making do with Jordan Schafer for now, so be it. If that means worsening the major league team's 2015 win-loss record, so be it. Only in an emergency (such as Schafer and Robinson both blowing out a knee or something like that) should Hicks be rushed.

And moreover, if and when Buxton is promoted to AAA it should have no bearing on Aaron Hicks, other than the fact that with Buxton in the organization Hicks belongs in right field. As for me, I'd guess Mike Quade would be more than happy to write Buxton-8 and Hicks-9 on his lineup card every night.

[JB_Iowa]

 

The Twins seem to have a plan for Hicks. If that plan was to give him extended time in AAA, they need to follow through. Extended time might be June 1 or Memorial Day, but it is still too early now. I would have had him as a platoon 4th OF. Though I disagreed with their plan, I do believe they need to follow through. It is important to have a plan in developing players and not react to small samples.

 

 

Memorial Day is 2 weeks from today.  Barring absolute collapse in the meantime (by either the team OR Hicks), I'm good with that.

[beckmt]

Hicks worked hard to find his way into Molitor's doghouse.  Molitor was one of the most prepared professionals to play the game,  if your head is not in the game, then you will not be playing for the Twins.  I believe it is not the stats, but the issues in Hicks's head that are keeping him in Rochester.  That may take longer than most posters think to fix.  It could be Hicks's future is not here, but do not want to give him away without a chance(read Carlos Gomez).  Some players just take longer to figure things out.  This was the major knock on Bill Smith, he deferred to Gardy way too much.  But Terry Ryan has the problem of (if Hicks is going to be in the doghouse for having his head not in the game and Molitor does not want to use him then what choice does Terry Ryan have).  Hicks has very limited trade value at this time and I do not want a repeat of Carlos Gomez given away.  Make sure Hicks understands the game before he comes to Minnesota.

[spinowner]

(Deleted)

[twinsfan34]

I'm for the bring Hicks up anytime soon sort of thing. When you're seeing the ball well - get after it.

 

I think Hicks offers more than Schafer or Robinson in terms of CF Defense and OBP. And on occasion, a better element of power. 

 

The other scenario, for me, as linking other concurrent discussions is NOT Buxton anytime soon. But rather another guy already on the 40-man roster. Jorge Polanco. That is, he would come up and then they'd move Santana to CF - which would also be an improvement over the Schafer/Robinson scenario.

[mudcat14]

I'm down with Hicks getting another shot, provided he has addressed the issues he was told to address at Rochester. On the surface, things look great. But who knows what Mollie and staff expect him to accomplish?

 

Not me.

[h2oface]

 

"this is still a young kid"

 

He's 25. When I was 25 I had two kids and a mortgage.

 

 

Good for you. That doesn't make a 25 year old not young.

 

It does if you are 25. If you are 25, it is really old.