American League MVP: Five Early Candidates

May 28, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) looks over at home plate umpire Tom Woodring (not pictured) during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) looks over at home plate umpire Tom Woodring (not pictured) during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
5 of 6
May 2, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) follows through on a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) follows through on a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

OF- Aaron Hicks

No it’s not as crazy as you think it is. The Yankees acquired Hicks for catcher John Ryan Murphy last season and it didn’t work out so well. Injuries and inconsistent playing time hampered his season.

The former first round pick wasn’t able to beat out Aaron Judge for the starting right field spot, but Hicks has produced whenever called upon this year and has gotten significant playing time since Jacoby Ellsbury has been out with a concussion and may be out for a longer period of time. That’s okay, because Hicks has been up to the task.

Hicks is 10th in the American League in WAR, ninth in average, third in OBP, seventh in slugging and sixth in OPS.

Will Hicks keep this up? I’m not so sure, because we’ve never seen this out of him, so there’s really nothing to compare it to. The Yankees are off to some kind of start and it’s a lot of it is due to their production in the outfield.