Aaron Hicks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aaron Hicks |
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Hicks with the New York Yankees in 2016
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| Free agent | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 2, 1989 San Pedro, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 1, 2013, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .231 | ||
| Home runs | 109 | ||
| Runs batted in | 392 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Aaron Michael Hicks (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Angels. Currently, he is a free agent.
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Aaron Michael Hicks was born on October 2, 1989, in San Pedro, California. His parents are Joe and Jody Hicks. Aaron grew up in San Pedro and went to Woodrow Wilson Classical High School. He was a fantastic baseball player there. He also attended MLB's Urban Youth Academy. This program helps promote baseball in city areas.
Baseball Career
Minor League Journey
Aaron Hicks is a switch hitter, meaning he can bat from both sides of the plate. The Minnesota Twins picked him in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. This was right after he finished high school. In his first year as a pro, he was named a Rookie All-Star. He was also considered the top young player in the Twins' organization. He had a great start, hitting .318 with four home runs. He also had 27 runs batted in (RBIs) and 12 stolen bases.
He continued to play in the minor leagues for several years. He played for teams like the Beloit Snappers and the Fort Myers Miracle. In 2012, he hit 13 home runs for the New Britain Rock Cats. Baseball America magazine ranked him as one of the top 100 young players four times.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins (2013–2015)
On March 24, 2013, Aaron Hicks was named the starting center fielder for the Minnesota Twins. He chose the number 32 to honor baseball legend Dave Winfield. However, his first season in the major leagues was tough. He batted only .192. He was sent back to the minor leagues in August 2013.
Despite a difficult 2013, Hicks started as the center fielder again in 2014. His hitting did not improve much, and he was sent back to the minor leagues in June. For a short time, he stopped switch-hitting because he felt less confident batting left-handed. But he soon went back to hitting from both sides. In 2015, Hicks had a better season. He hit .256 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 97 games.
Time with the New York Yankees (2016–2023)
Joining the Yankees and Early Success
In November 2015, the Twins traded Hicks to the New York Yankees. The Yankees liked his athletic skills, strong throwing arm, and ability to hit left-handed pitching.
On April 20, 2016, Hicks made an amazing throw during a game. He threw the ball at 105.5 miles per hour to get a player out at home plate. This was the fastest throw recorded by Statcast at the time. In 2016, he played in 123 games, hitting eight home runs.
In 2017, Hicks had a breakout year. By early June, he had already hit more home runs and RBIs than in his entire 2016 season. He hit two home runs in one game, one from each side of the plate. He finished the season with career highs of 15 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also had a .266 batting average. He did miss some time due to an oblique injury.
In 2018, Hicks continued to play well. He hit two inside-the-park home runs in one season. This was a rare feat for a Yankee player, last done by Mickey Mantle in 1958. On July 1, he hit three home runs in a single game against the Boston Red Sox. He ended 2018 with career highs in home runs (27), RBIs (79), and hits (119).
Injuries and Challenges (2019–2023)
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In January 2019, Hicks signed a new contract with the Yankees. A month later, he signed a long-term extension for seven years. He started the 2019 season on the injured list with a back strain. He later hit a home run that helped the Yankees tie a league record. They had hit a home run in 27 straight games. In June 2019, Hicks made history by hitting the first MLB home run in Europe. This happened during a game in London.
Later in 2019, Hicks suffered an elbow injury. Doctors said he needed Tommy John surgery, which is a major operation. He decided to try to avoid surgery at first. But he eventually had the surgery and was expected to miss a long time.
The 2020 baseball season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hicks was able to return to play just eight months after his surgery. In 2020, he played in 54 games. In 2021, he had another surgery, this time on his left wrist. He played in only 32 games that year.
In 2022, Hicks hit his first career grand slam. This happened in a big 16–0 win. Later that season, he had a very tough game. He made some errors in the outfield, and fans at Yankee Stadium booed him loudly. He was taken out of the game. Despite this, he hit his 100th career home run in September 2022.
In 2023, Hicks started the season on the bench. He played in 28 games for the Yankees but struggled with his hitting. On May 20, 2023, the Yankees decided to release him from the team. His manager, Aaron Boone, said that injuries had really affected Hicks's time with the team.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles (2023)
After being released by the Yankees, Hicks signed with the Baltimore Orioles on May 30, 2023. He had a strong comeback with the Orioles. He helped the team win 101 games and finish first in their division. He had a great game on June 20, with four RBIs, including a three-run home run. When he played against his old team, the Yankees, he hit a solo home run. He dealt with some hamstring and back injuries in July and August. But he returned for the end of the season. In the playoffs, he also had a two-run hit against the Texas Rangers. With the Orioles, he hit seven home runs and had a .275 batting average.
Time with the Los Angeles Angels (2024)
On January 29, 2024, Hicks signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. He played in 18 games for the Angels. He hit one home run and had five RBIs. On April 29, the Angels decided to release him from the team.
Personal Life
Aaron Hicks's father, Joe Hicks, was also a baseball player. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1975. However, his career ended early due to an eye injury. Because of this, Joe encouraged Aaron to try golf. Aaron Hicks is a very good golfer and has played in many youth golf tournaments.
In October 2021, Aaron Hicks got engaged to professional golfer Cheyenne Woods. They got married in February 2022. Their son was born in April 2022. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.
