Slumping Aaron Hicks dropped to ninth, but Aaron Boone notes that he's still getting on base
Yankees left fielder Aaron Hicks throws his bat down after he struck out to end the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in an MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
CHICAGO — Aaron Hicks batted ninth Friday night, but Aaron Boone said it was not a product of the outfielder’s continued slump.
“It’s more of how it lined up today,” Boone said.
Hicks, who started in centerfield Friday, came into the night hitting .215 with one homer in 27 games. Not good numbers by any stretch, but as Boone pointed out, Hicks still has a more-than-above-average on-base percentage — .364, a number that looks even better given the lack of hits. He was 17-for-79 but had walked 18 times in 100 plate appearances.
“The one thing Aaron’s doing really well right now is still getting on base,” Boone said. “And to have that on-base presence in the nine-hole is something that I value. It kind of can serve as double leadoff hitter where we’re on base in front of our guys in the middle [like] Judgie and Donaldson and Stanton tonight. It [Hicks batting ninth] more is I just really value his, while he’s trying to find his way right now [hitting], still his ability to get on has been there all season so far. I think that’s valuable in the nine-hole.”
Boone said Hicks, who was hitless in his last 19 at-bats entering Friday but did have two hits and eight walks in his previous 30 plate appearances, could be moved back up in the order if there’s an uptick in his power numbers, but he made no guarantees.
“We’ll see how it falls,” Boone said. “It’s a spot I value a lot and feel like right now it could be a good spot for Aaron.”
Nothing personal
Friday marked the third time Jose Trevino caught Gerrit Cole in the righthander’s last four outings, but Boone said that was nothing to read into.
“Whether it’s Trevino or Higgy [Kyle Higashioka], they’re both great catchers,” Boone said. “It’s kind of how it’s fallen this week. Higgy will probably be back in there [Saturday] Jose will get the day game Sunday. I’m not planning any guys together or anything like that. Bottom line I is I have a ton of confidence in both our catchers right now.”
Danger zone
Aaron Judge entered Friday with 10 homers, 24 RBIs and a .324/.373/.794 slash line in his last 17 games. Giancarlo Stanton began the day with seven homers, 20 RBIs and a .359/.410/.755 slash line in his last 14 games -- and hit a two-run homer over the centerfield wall in the first inning Friday night.
