When the MLB returns to action at the end of next week, New York Yankees centerfielder Aaron Hicks is set to make history. He will be the first known player to play on Opening Day after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the offseason.
Last August, Hicks went on the IL due to elbow pain. He remained on the IL for the rest of the regular season and the ALDS. But, he was feeling better come the ALCS and the Yankees activated him for the series. Although batting just 2-for-13 in the ALCS, Hicks hit a massive three-run home run in game five to extend the series another night.
After the season, more extensive testing showed that Hicks needed Tommy John surgery, and successfully underwent the procedure in November. Doctors told him that he would be sidelined for 8-to-10 months, but fortunately he ended up on the lower end of that spectrum.
Hicks has been partaking in all of the Yankees “Summer Camp” workouts and has been playing in the televised simulated games. He says that he feels fine, and is ready to go. If the season was going on as planned, he would just be coming back anyway. This is perfect timing for him and one of the guys that the coronavirus shutdown helped.
The Yankees signed him for a long extension through 2025 before the 2019 season, and are hoping they make their investment worth it. Hicks has been a guy who has struggled with injuries over his career, and they need that to change. His power and defense make him an important part of the Yankee lineup, and he still has a lot of potential.