Article: Hope for Hicks

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1710-Hope-for-Hicks

[Shane Wahl]

1. Hicks was already slowly improving. I think this might speed it up somewhat so that the next six weeks has him at .210/.315/.350. This is just the start.

 

2. I would absolutely have said NO and that he should have been in AAA. However, the Twins have now managed to be 18-17 while Hicks was doing this. I think this is going to work out well for both Hicks and the Twins.

 

3. The view for me hasn't changed, though I see a struggle in the short-term and that is against RH pitching. There is going to be a problem here. Last year was strong for him in AA because he started to correct his split problem. We CANNOT expect him to continue that improvement at this level. I can't believe I ignored this specific problem until now. But as a RH against lefties, he can be a competent hitter right now. And the defense is still pretty good this year.

[Brodin4Calder]

Hicks is capable of more power than you give him credit for, I would say he has a chance to be a 20-25 HR guy and maybe max out at 30 a year or 2. Although he has struggled he seems like on most of his hits he drives in runs. He could be a .270-.280 average, 15-25HR. 30SB, 80+RBI guy. Maybe even more than all that? But I dont think he ever becomes a "Great" player. He could be pretty good but dont expect annual trips to the all star game...

[RodneyKline]

I was thrilled for him and his big day but he better finish out the year over .250 as a hitter or he is not going to make it here with Byron Buxton ready next year. Buxton is way ahead of Hicks so far. We have to realize that Hicks only had one minor league season that was above average until he had that great spring training. Hicks is also one guy that we shouldn't look at his OB% so far this year. That is a huge negative as far as I see because he has been afraid to swing for most of the year. I really hope he turns it around but I am super excited to see what Buxton can do also. I think Buxton is the real deal. Not that Hicks can't be great also but Buxton looks really special. Like MVP special. If Hicks gets above .250 this season then I will be excited about him too. We need three outfield spots filled the last time I checked so I really hope Hicks is great too. He sure is exciting when he does do great like he did tonight.

[Brandon]

Last nights power display was a fun way to see him get his first multi hit game in his career. One thing I am impressed with is the number of RBI and Runs he has scored considering his inability to get hits so far. He has more RBI then Plouffe. Does anyone know what Hick's stat line is in the "clutch" or with RISP? So when Buxton Arrives does Hicks move to LF keeping Arcia in RF?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I was thrilled for him and his big day but he better finish out the year over .250 as a hitter or he is not going to make it here with Byron Buxton ready next year. Buxton is way ahead of Hicks so far.

 

Buxton is in A ball. There are three OF spots. Hicks and Buxton will roam the Twins OF in future years. They are not in competition with one another except who gets to play center.

 

We have to realize that Hicks only had one minor league season that was above average until he had that great spring training.

 

He had three well above average seasons in the minors, actually.

 

Hicks is also one guy that we shouldn't look at his OB% so far this year. That is a huge negative as far as I see because he has been afraid to swing for most of the year.

 

I'll take the kid who is "afraid" to swing but has a good eye over the guy who swings away 99% of the time. It's a lot easier to learn to swing at good pitches than it is to lay off bad ones (see Young, Delmon).

[Brock Beauchamp]

Last nights power display was a fun way to see him get his first multi hit game in his career. One thing I am impressed with is the number of RBI and Runs he has scored considering his inability to get hits so far. He has more RBI then Plouffe. Does anyone know what Hick's stat line is in the "clutch" or with RISP? So when Buxton Arrives does Hicks move to LF keeping Arcia in RF?

 

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. RISPy-ness doesn't exist in general and it certainly doesn't tell anything in sample sizes under 50 PAs.

[Blackjack]

We all hope that this is the kind of game propells him but realistically he'll have some more slumps, the advance scouts will find the holes in his game. At that point - July 1st? - it wouldn't hurt for him to go down to AAA for a month, he's had a taste of the majors, should know what it takes to succeed, motivate him to get back. Motivation is a powerful tool.

 

Personally I think he would have been sent down already if the Twins had an adequate centerfield replacement.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I think his numbers this year, at least at this point in the season, are immaterial. He is here to get experience, and to improve, so that he can be a regular contributor in the years ahead.

 

I think it is all about the intangibles - if it looked like he was getting discouraged and losing confidence, then absolutely you send him to Rochester. If it looks like he has a positive attitude and is seeking to improve, you keep him up here. Right now the later seems to be the case.

 

Also, it was good to see Gardenhire recognize the performance in the post-game - that's the kind of stuff you want to hear the manager saying (and be able to say with a straight face:)).

[Mike Sixel]

Splits, splits, splits. I won't be a full believer until he shows he can hit LH. If only there were more lefty starters for him to face......but it's great to see a game like last night. I wanted him up here once they dealt both Revere and Span, and I think he should stay up here. He can learn he as much as he canin Rochester, imo.

[ericchri]

He's going to get way more at-bats left-handed than right-handed if he remains a switch-hitter, so as encouraging as last night was we still have a long ways to go before we know what Hicks can be. I'm as hopeful as anyone he can be really good, he's nearly my ideal profile for a center fielder, but we're still in SSS territory with Hicks, and one great game as a RH hitter doesn't immediately change his outlook.

 

Boy that was a fun game to watch, though!

[nicksaviking]

Hicks is also one guy that we shouldn't look at his OB% so far this year. That is a huge negative as far as I see

 

His OBP is over 100 points higher than his batting average. That's actually pretty impressive considering.

[Halsey Hall]

I was glad Hicks came up out of spring training. I really didn't expect a hot start, but expected more than what he's done so far. I'm just about ready to jump sides and say maybe some time in AAA would be better for him.

 

But, in the time he's been here, he's learned, alot. He's got to continue to learn and put that knowledge to use. He's certainly got a good command of the strike zone, and he's getting smoother on defense. His bat is improving little by little. He's at least hitting some balls with some authority now. Having Bruno there has to be a plus that he wouldn't have in Rochester. Last night I'd bet he was pretty surprised how far that first homer went with that short swing. File that one in the memory bank! And take it to the other side when hitting lefty.

 

He seems alot more relaxed now, and playing with Arcia can't hurt that. I'll give another month and see what comes. Hopefully he'll keep improving, he's surely fun to watch, and could be a joy for years to come.

[cmathewson]

His history is really bad in April, and he tends to heat up in May and June. Combine that with the jump from AA to the bigs, and we could expect him to struggle. Maybe not as badly as he did in April. If we could give him a mulligan for the first 10 games, he'd be right about where I'd expect at this point. As the season progresses, I expect him to continue to improve. As MWW said, no reason to send him down as long as he continues to improve.

[Nick Nelson]

Since going 3-for-53 in his first 15 games, Hicks is hitting .250/.310/.519. He's been hitless in only three of his last 15 starts. He ranks first on the team in steals, third in homers, third in runs scored. He's been scaling back the strikeouts and improving his defense in center field. Obviously his overall numbers are still ugly because the season-opening slump was so brutal, but he's done enough since then that a demotion shouldn't be in discussion right now.

 

I don't think anyone should be surprised that he's struggling from the left side... that's just going to take time.

[Badsmerf]

Wow. I'm amazed at what one good game does to people. Yes he is improving, maybe this game will help him get more confidence and he'll start stroking. Come on though dudes. This guy has had absolutely brutal AB's for the past month and a half. Whiffing on pitches in the middle of the plate and being incapable of hitting off-speed pitches. I'm encouraged by his performance last night but lets be reasonable.

He could be a .270-.280 average, 15-25HR. 30SB, 80+RBI guy

Are you ****ing kidding me? He hit .286 once in his entire professional career and now he's a .270-.280 guy after a 2 HR game while he's hitting .152 in 110 AB's? Wow dude. I can maybe see the 15 HR's since he is still young and should develop.

 

I'm still in the opinion he should abandon hitting LH and just focus on RH. I guess last night is the only competency he's shown at the plate all year (besides taking walks), so it might not matter.

[stringer bell]

Splits, splits, splits. I won't be a full believer until he shows he can hit LH. If only there were more lefty starters for him to face......but it's great to see a game like last night. I wanted him up here once they dealt both Revere and Span, and I think he should stay up here. He can learn he as much as he canin Rochester, imo.

I have to agree with Mike to a degree. At the very least, it looks like Hicks' power side will be RH. As long as he can maintain a comparable OBP from both sides, I think it is acceptable for Hicks to be a full-time player, but if the OBP gap gets too big, then it shows a big problem for Hicks' future going forward.

[kab21]

His hot stretch earns him another month or so. If anyone remembers these hot/cold stretches were common in the minors also.

[cmathewson]

I guess last night is the only competency he's shown at the plate all year (besides taking walks), so it might not matter. [/color]

 

Read Nick's comment. Last night was his first multi-hit game. But he's been getting hits and walks at a pretty good clip since April 15.

[Mike Sixel]

Third in homers on the Twins is like being what? There must be some internet MEME here we can use......

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Since going 3-for-53 in his first 15 games, Hicks is hitting .250/.310/.519. He's been hitless in only three of his last 15 starts. He ranks first on the team in steals, third in homers, third in runs scored. He's been scaling back the strikeouts and improving his defense in center field. Obviously his overall numbers are still ugly because the season-opening slump was so brutal, but he's done enough since then that a demotion shouldn't be in discussion right now..

 

Thanks Nick for the numbers--I have been noticing the creeping up in his avg. since the beginning of May but didnt have the numbers. I was in the camp that said send him to Rochester for a month or two. Now I dont think so. Let him learn up here. If he gets the avg. up to 240 by the end of the year great. If not, OK. He can play CF well and save runs. As Bert says--let him have fun.

 

Buxton is tearing up the Midwest League and will be up here in 2015--give Hicks 2 years to keep the job.

[Siehbiscuit]

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. RISPy-ness doesn't exist in general and it certainly doesn't tell anything in sample sizes under 50 PAs.

 

I disagree with the "it doesn't matter" portion. It may not matter as far as the "stats" go, but it does say something to me about his general aggressiveness in those situations. We have all seen him be VERY selective in choosing the right pitch and be overly cautious at the plate, but with RISP his approach has changed and regardless of the outcome of those appearances, that does matter. He needs to find the balance between using his strike zone discipline and being more assertive. That comes with repetition.

[gunnarthor]

Since being pushed down the lineup, Hicks is hitting .226/.347/.452 with 12 walks to 15 strike outs. His babip in that time is only .244 so he might have been a little unlucky in there. He's also managed about 1.1 bWAR in that time (it bottomed out at -0.3).

 

He does have a splits issue but I think he's been a much better player since getting out of the leadoff spot. I have no problem with them keeping him up here for awhile longer. If he goes into another 0-10game stretch, demote him to AAA but, for now, he's improving.

[ThePuck]

he needs to stick to batting right handed.

[70charger]

Random question for Seth. Who took that picture? Where did it come from?

[Shane Wahl]

Since going 3-for-53 in his first 15 games, Hicks is hitting .250/.310/.519. He's been hitless in only three of his last 15 starts. He ranks first on the team in steals, third in homers, third in runs scored. He's been scaling back the strikeouts and improving his defense in center field. Obviously his overall numbers are still ugly because the season-opening slump was so brutal, but he's done enough since then that a demotion shouldn't be in discussion right now.

 

I don't think anyone should be surprised that he's struggling from the left side... that's just going to take time.

 

So he really hasn't been that slow in improving this year. That's a big jump from the horrific start.

 

And clearly he should not be demoted. That would be a ridiculous move at this point.

[Shane Wahl]

Also, Buxton is not going to be competition for Hicks. At all. I would think that an OF of X-Buxton-Hicks is the long-term idea.

[Shane Wahl]

he needs to stick to batting right handed.

 

Because magically he is going to be able to hit RH pitching from the right side after not doing it for years?

[ThePuck]

Also, Buxton is not going to be competition for Hicks. At all. I would think that an OF of X-Buxton-Hicks is the long-term idea.

 

Exactly...Buxton in CF with Hicks in RF and Arcia in LF.

[Siehbiscuit]

A lot of the "keep him here" or "send him down" talk with prospects is unfair. Each kid is SO different. Hicks father was a pro ball player, although he never got to the show. Another thing that may play into the intangibles category is that Hicks was a standout amateur golfer that possibly could have done that professionally. The only reason I bring these two points up is to be successful at golf consistently requires a ton of mental toughness. Also, having the family that has been exactly where he is, struggling and struggling yet persevering requires tremendous amounts of character. Hicks may be the kind of kid that will improve far more from Gardenhire, Bruno and other teaching and coaching him very hard than what he would get at AAA. Not all of these young men are wired the same and I think Hicks will be able to persevere through this slump and will be coachable.