The return of New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks could not come at a more convenient time for the club. Once again, the New York Yankees get a key piece back. Per several sources, the team will activate outfielder Aaron Hicks off the injured list Monday. The switch-hitting center fielder had not played since early March due to a lower back strain. Hicks received two cortisone shots before starting baseball activities again last month. And the timing of this could not be any more perfect. The Yankees just took two of three from the first-place Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Starting Monday, the Bronx Bombers get three at home versus the lowly Baltimore Orioles before a weekend tilt against the Rays again, this time in their own, well-lit park. These games may not seem important but keep in mind, the Yankees are only a half-game behind Tampa Bay entering play on Monday. First place in the AL East is well within reach. That means if Aaron Hicks‘ bat is right, New York could not only be in a position to take over first place but also build a lead over rival teams. An Underrated Piece Over the past two seasons, Aaron Hicks very quietly had solid performances for the Yankees. Injuries limited him to just 88 games total in 2017, but he hit a career-high .266 and set new career marks with 15 home runs and 52 RBI. The injuries were concerning but considering Hicks only hit .217 in his first year with the Yankees, the bounceback was a pleasant surprise. Hicks followed up with another career year in 2018. He only hit .248 and missed time early with a strain in his ribs, but also slugged 27 homers with 79 RBI. Far too often in the past two seasons, Hicks emerged a hero with clutch home runs. All in all, Hicks posted a combined 8.2 WAR over those two seasons. He proved with regular playing time, he could become a lineup staple and reliable defender in the outfield. His career DRS of 10 and 11.6 UZR show just that. That was all the Yankees needed to see to offer him up a seven-year, $70 million extension at the start of spring training. Now, it’s time for Hicks to prove he’s worth the investment. In this case, the timing is absolutely perfect. A Walk In The Park To understand the timing of Aaron Hicks’ return, let’s take a look at the Yankees’ upcoming schedule. Eighteen total games remain in May, 10 of which are against last-place teams in the Kansas City Royals and the aforementioned Orioles. It just so happens when it comes to these two teams, Hicks’ career numbers are pretty solid. He is a .275 hitter with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 46 games against Baltimore. The numbers versus Kansas City are similar, as Hicks has hit .271 with seven homers and 19 RBI in 43 games against the Royals. Not only that, but Hicks coming back to the lineup signifies something of a return to normalcy for the Yankees. Star sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are still injured with no set timetables for a return. Sunday’s lineup featured only three players who were on last year’s Opening Day roster. This team needs some veteran power in the lineup, and Aaron Hicks should provide plenty of that upon his return. Lineup Balance Speaking of the Yankees’ lineup, Hicks also brings some much-needed variety. Consider this for a minute. The Yankees have just two left-handed hitters on the active roster right now: Brett Gardner and Mike Tauchman. That leaves a lineup so righty-heavy, you’d think the team was protesting Ned Flanders. Hicks, on the other hand, is a switch-hitter. This allows manager Aaron Boone to get creative with the lineup as opposed to just stacking righties because it’s all he has available. He could make Hicks the new cleanup hitter, or bat him third, sandwiched between dangerous behemoths Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez. The possibilities are truly endless. Final Thoughts The best news of all, however, is Aaron Hicks will finally be on the field this season. Injuries have ravaged the Yankees all year and though the team is in a strong position despite that, the fans deserve the best. No more should they have to hold their breath when anyone outside the top third of the order comes up to bat. Hicks’ return shows the team finally able to move away from that. The team is in a prime position to get back to its powerful ways starting with him, especially with some lighter competition on the horizon. Because little by little, bit by bit, piece by piece, the Yankees regulars are coming back. It may not seem like it, but the team is slowly returning to top form. With Aaron Hicks returning, here’s hoping the New York baseball we know and love does too.<doc-sep>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Aaron Hicks experienced discomfort in his lower back early in spring training, it was believed to be a day-or-two thing. However, it developed into a situation that required two cortisone injections and landed him on the injured list to start the season. Monday, the Yankees plan to activate the switch-hitting center fielder and leadoff hitter, who signed a seven-year, $70 million deal shortly before being shelved with a lower-back strain. Hicks was scheduled to play for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, but that game was rained out. In five minor league rehab games (three in Single-A, two in Triple-A), Hicks batted .167 (3-for-18) with a homer and one RBI. When Chad Green was recalled from SWB on Sunday, there was an open spot in the bullpen because Nestor Cortes Jr. had been sent out Saturday night. Aaron Boone said the club knew who was going to go to clear space for Hicks, but didn’t announce the move following Sunday’s 7-1 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Mike Tauchman was the leading candidate as the Yankees packed and headed for the team bus. Tauchman is a left-handed-hitting outfielder who can play center, but Hicks is a switch hitter and Brett Gardner hits left-handed and has started 35 games in center. And Tauchman has options remaining. Tauchman played a big role in Sunday’s victory with an RBI double off Blake Snell that came within a couple of feet of clearing the center-field wall in the fifth inning when the Yankees copped a 2-0 lead. “I knew I hit it high enough and I knew I had backspinned it,’’ said Tauchman, who scored on DJ LeMahieu’s single and scored in the ninth. “I don’t hit no-doubters and height was going to be an issue, not quite high enough.’’<doc-sep>New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks is scheduled to return from the injured list on Monday. And now we know who will be losing a spot on the club as a result of the roster move. Per Yankees PR: Following Sunday’s game, the Yankees optioned OF Mike Tauchman to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hicks has been on the injured list since the start of the season with a lower back strain. HIs return coincides with the Yankees opening a three-game series at Yankee Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles. Hicks is the Yankees’ center fielder of the present and future. He signed a seven-year, $70 million contract extension shortly before landing on the injured list during spring training. The other candidates to get bumped for Hicks included outfielders Clint Frazier and Cameron Maybin. But Frazier is tied for third on the team with six home runs. And Maybin is hitting .324 since joining the team. Tauchman was hitting .213 with four home runs and 12 RBI. He saw time at all three outfield positions. Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek, PrimeSport, Ticketmaster General manager Brian Cashman traded for Tauchman in March, getting him from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for relief pitcher Phillip Diehl. The move came five days before the 2019 regular season opener, and bumped Tyler Wade from the 25-man roster. At the time, Wade publicly vented his frustration with losing his ticket to the Bronx, saying he was “blindsided” by the move. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.<doc-sep>Flip Reddit 9 Shares As the weeks go on, the New York Yankee’s main guys are starting to roll back in off the injured list. Yankee fans are anticipating the return of these players. New York Yankees: Aaron Hicks preparing to make a return Homering in his last triple-A game in his rehab assignment, Aaron Hicks will be returning to the Yankees’ roster Monday. He will most likely not be in the starting lineup but he will definitely be on an option on the bench. Boone said the team knows who it will ship out to get Aaron Hicks on the roster tomorrow. Said the team will make an announcement soon-ish. — Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) May 12, 2019 Aaron Judge Aaron Judge obtained an oblique injury on April 20th and has not resumed any baseball activities yet. It seems he will not return until late May or early June. However, manager Aaron Boone said, “[Judge] is making good improvements every day.” No baseball activities for Aaron Judge, but improvements every day. He’s in the weight room and doing range of motion work. Boone says they’re not at a point where they can offer a timetable. — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 3, 2019 Giancarlo Stanton Injuring his bicep in early April, Giancarlo Stanton was taking steps back in the recovery process. After injuring his bicep, he obtained a shoulder injury during rehabbing. Stanton said that he believes the shoulder injury came from the bicep strain. The Yankees management believes that he will not be in the lineup anytime soon. It is worth noting however that Stanton was throwing before the Mariners game on Wednesday night. Stanton has also been working out at the minor league complex, where he was taking swings in the cage and doing some fielding work. This is a good sign – Giancarlo Stanton tossing a baseball on the field pre-game! #Yankees pic.twitter.com/5fCSuyR5Do — Bruce Beck (@BruceBeck4NY) May 8, 2019 Didi Gregorius Last season following the playoffs, it was announced that Didi Gregorius was to undergo Tommy John surgery. Gregorius has been rehabbing ever since the procedure and recently is making very positive progress. YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits talked with Didi yesterday prior to the game where he said, “I’m feeling pretty good, getting there, almost ready to go.” Gregorius has been traveling with the team and has been fielding groundballs, taking swings, and throwing consistently. His return is expected in the next few weeks, most likely in early June. Welcome sight? Didi Gregorius taking grounders at shortstop here at The Trop. pic.twitter.com/knwPNdgcAs — Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) May 10, 2019 Dellin Betances Dellin Betances (shoulder) was throwing a flat-ground at 60 feet before yesterday’s game and said to be feeling good. Betances has been traveling with the team and following their return to New York, he will begin to throw at 75 feet. He is making a positive improvement, but will not be returning anytime soon. Luis Severino General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Luis Severino will not return until after the All-Star break. He is currently in a six-week shutdown, and will not be throwing until late May or early June. Once healthy again, Severino will most likely be given a multi-start rehab assignment before being reinstated to the active roster. Greg Bird Greg Bird (foot) is no longer wearing a boot but is still walking with pain. With a left plantar fascia tear, it seems Bird is not close to making a return anytime soon.<doc-sep>
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — At last, Aaron Hicks is ready. The centerfielder, who missed just about all of spring training with a lower-back injury that forced him to start the season on the injured list, is set to be activated Monday when the Yankees return home to start a three-game series against the Orioles. “The idea is we’re planning on him being activated tomorrow,” Aaron Boone said Sunday morning. Hicks was slated to play in one final rehab game Sunday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but that contest was rained out. In Saturday night’s rehab game, Hicks went 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles. “Looked more than ready,” said one opposing team scout at Saturday’s game. The switch hitter, who agreed to a seven-year, $70 million extension early in spring training, tweaked his back March 1 and did not do much in the way of baseball activities thereafter. He began playing in extended spring training games May 1 and quickly moved to high Class A Tampa and then Scranton late last week. Outfielder Mike Tauchman, whose RBI double off Blake Snell gave the Yankees their first run in Sunday's 7-1 victory over the Rays, is expected to be optioned to make room for Hicks. Subscribe to Newsday’s sports newsletter Receive stories, photos and videos about your favorite New York teams plus national sports news and events. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Torres sore Rookie Thairo Estrada started at shortstop Sunday in place of Gleyber Torres, who got hit by a pitch on his right elbow Friday night. “Didn’t affect him at all swinging the bat. Felt like, though, he was a little sore throwing the ball from short yesterday,” Boone said. “Felt like it was a good day to get him a day.” Estrada homered to ignite a four-run ninth inning. Sanchez gets day, too Gary Sanchez typically doesn’t catch a day game after a night game and was not in the lineup Sunday, replaced by Austin Romine. Sealing the deal was Sanchez getting hit on the top of his head on a swing follow-through by the Rays' Guillermo Heredia late in Saturday’s game. “Came in feeling really good, which was encouraging,” Boone said of Sanchez, who passed concussion protocol testing Saturday night. “But I think we’re definitely taking a little conservative approach because he took a pretty good shot there. Was considering a DH day for him today, but then just with that shot, was best to have him out of there.” Andujar and Frazier struggling Miguel Andujar and Clint Frazier have yet to get in a groove at the plate since being activated from the injured list. After going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Sunday, Andujar is 3-for-34 with nine strikeouts. Frazier, after going 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts Sunday, is 5-for-25 with eight strikeouts.