New York Yankees: Aaron Hicks carrying too much on his shoulders

Aaron Hicks has faced a number of injuries in his New York Yankees career, but the pain will be on his shoulders literally this season.

Aaron Hicks is one of the more dynamic players on the New York Yankees roster. He plays a great centerfield defensively and had managed to hit with power and display respectable speed on the bases.

The attributes that were just mentioned along with an excellent 2018 season where he clobbered 27 home runs and drove in 79 RBIs primarily from the leadoff spot. The big season pushed general manager Brian Cashman to offer Hicks a contract extension of 7 years $70 million. This positioned him as the team’s starting center fielder for more than just the immediate future and a core member of the franchise.

Cashman spoke optimistically with reporters about Hicks’ future with the team back in February after the deal was announced expressing that the career .236 hitter was on the upswing in his career.

"“He has more gas in his tank, he has more mountains to climb,” Cashman said. “We’re excited by a player who came here that wasn’t a finished product and had a lot of upside. We engaged him on a lot of levels about the talent that we thought he possessed.”"

The season started rocky as Hicks needed to be placed on the IL due to a back injury keeping him out until May. He has since been trying to find a sense of comfort and consistency in the lineup. The latest set back Hicks is trying to play through is a shoulder injury that required a cortisone shot before last Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Hicks discussed the recent cortisone shot dismissing any lingering pain while speaking with reporters.

"” I feel good, shoulder feels good. Better than it was [Thursday]. I think it was the shot and now it’s gone,’’"

Hicks is a tough player gutting it out through another injury, but the Yankees showed concern by initially keeping Cameron Maybin on the roster until his injury. Cashman has worries about his banged-up outfield already dealing with past injuries to Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees will continue to shuffle their outfield in hopes preserving players throughout the season with eyes on the postseason.

The contract will undoubtedly be brought up by critics of Hicks so far this season. It is imperative that he finds a groove again and stabilize centerfield in Yankee Stadium.