New York Yankees: Aaron Hicks back to DL with another oblique injury
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks has returned to the disabled list after suffering his second oblique injury of 2017.
The New York Yankees have placed outfielder Aaron Hicks on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left oblique, per a team announcement. Lefty Caleb Smith has been recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place on the roster.
Hicks suffered a right-side oblique injury in late June and was not able to return until nearly seven weeks later in early August. According to Sweeney Murti of WFAN, this strain is not as severe as the last one, and the Yanks believe Hicks can begin swinging a bat again in 10-12 days. He was removed in the seventh inning of last night’s contest.
Though it sounds like Hicks may be able to return before the end of the season, this is still a disappointing development for the Yankees as they fight to maintain their hold on a playoff spot. They’re trying to stay within sight of the Red Sox in the AL East while fending off a wide array of challengers in a tight Wild Card race. It’s certainly the kind of situation where you’d like to have all hands on deck.
Hicks was one of the Yanks’ most surprising stories during the season’s first few months. He slashed a hearty .317/.429/.584 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI over his first 50 games. In that short span he easily outpaced last year’s meager production: Hicks hit just .217/.281/.336 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 123 contests in 2016. This season’s hot start transformed Hicks from a popular target of fan derision to one of the Yankees’ most important lineup pieces.
He’s largely struggled since return from his last DL stint, however. Hicks has slashed .207/.290/.345 while adding three more long balls and 11 RBI over his last 22 games. The statistical downturn started even before then, as Hicks has batted only .198/.280/.310 dating back to June 12.
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Regardless of his reversing fortunes at the plate and whether or not he plays again this year, Hick has earned consideration in the Yankees’ future plans. After all, he’ll turn just 28 in October and is under team control through 2019. Beyond his bat, he’s also shown himself to be a quality outfielder with the ability to play all three positions there. Hicks has been responsible for 14 defensive runs saved this season with a 11.8 UZR/150.
In the immediate term, Hicks’ absence means Jacoby Ellsbury will see more consistent playing time. The veteran is having another underwhelming year overall, but he’s slashing .308/.379/.577 with four extra-base hits (including a homer) and six RBI in his last 10 games. The Yanks would welcome a strong month of September, but sustained success has been difficult for Ellsbury to find in New York.
Perhaps more exciting for fans is that rookie Clint Frazier should be back soon. He’ll start a rehab assignment on Wednesday, says Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The 22-year-old has been on the shelf with a left oblique strain of his own since Aug. 9. While he’s exhibited his share of growing pains since making his debut in July, he’s also shown plenty of the talent that made him a top prospect, belting four homers and driving in 17 runs over 28 games.
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The Yankees face their final matchup of the season with the Red Sox tonight. After winning two of the first three in the series, they moved to within 4.5 games of the division leaders. Tonight’s result could go a long way toward determining whether the Bronx Bombers have a legitimate shot at staying in the AL East race.