If a 2020 Major League Baseball season takes place, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks will be a go.
Hicks told George A. King III of the New York Post that he’d be “ready to play” if an MLB season were to begin in July.
“I would be ready to play,’’ Hicks told The Post by phone from Tampa, where he has been hitting and throwing at George M. Steinbrenner Field for the past few weeks. “The plan was July to see where I am at and ready to play games. For me, I want to be back to the arm strength I had before.’’
Hicks was limited to 59 games last season due to injury and underwent Tommy John surgery in the offseason. The outfielder says his health is improving.
“I am doing really well. I am up to 160 feet throwing, taking BP on the field and doing defensive work. I get better and better [throwing] every day and every week. The throwing gets stronger. It is definitely coming. It comes in its own ways when it wants to. I am not too far off. I will throw to bases coming up here pretty soon, think next week. My arm feels great.’’
Hicks realizes the urgency in being an everyday starter in a shortened season.
“As a starter you have to know that you are going to have to play every single game because there is no time. Anything can happen in a 60-game season.”
Hicks has no regrets about returning to the Yankees late season, prior to having surgery.
“I had a feeling that I was going to have to get surgery so I don’t regret it at all. I felt like the decision I made was for my team. I feel like my team is stronger with me in the outfield.”
Hicks is entering the first year of a seven-year, $70 million contract. Prior to an injury-riddled 2019 campaign, the switch-hitting Hicks totaled 27 home runs and 79 RBIs while posting an .833 OPS and a 127 OPS+ in 2018.