Remember when you wanted the Yankees to release Aaron Hicks?

Yankees super-sub Aaron Hicks continues to shine despite limited playing time. His depth off the bench is key, so maybe Joe Girardi knows exactly what’s he doing.

Not long ago, the Yankees sent promising young catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Twins for Aaron Hicks. Had Hicks played last year, the way he is in 2017, this club may look a whole lot different.

Perhaps Brett Gardner would have been traded in the offseason, or Aaron Judge wouldn’t have been given a shot to make the opening day roster.

Fortunately (?) for the 24-13 first place Yankees, Hicks struggled mightily in 2016 — so much so that 9-out-of-10 fans were calling for the team to release him. If you are a loyal reader of this blog, then you know I was the tenth fan, clamoring to stay the course with the former 2007 first round pick.

It wasn’t until Carlos Beltran was dealt to the Rangers that Hicks finally began to show a glimmer of what he’s capable of with consistent at-bats.

Couple that with what we’ve known all along — that he plays all three outfield positions extremely well, and has a cannon for an arm; and finally, the Murphy deal looked like a fair transaction.

Fast forward to this season. Hicks has gone from almost beating out Judge for the starting right field job in Spring Training, to snarling cynics still doubting he had any more value than Mason Williams, and now, finally entrenching himself as the most important bench player on the roster.

On any other team, Hicks’ name would be penciled in the lineup each and every day. In just 89 at-bats this season, Hicks is hitting .326 with seven home runs, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored.

To get a better understanding of the absolute fantastic campaign that the 27-year-old switch-hitter is having, take a peek at where these numbers rank him among AL league leaders:

• 1.7 Offensive WAR (9th) / .464 OBP (4th) / 1.080 OBP (7th) / 22 Walks (8th) / 6 Stolen Bases (9th) / 6.5 Power-Speed # (3rd)

Last night against the Royals, Hicks continued to show his extreme value — going 2-4 with a three-run blast in the fourth inning of an 11-7 victory.

Following the contest, manager Joe Girardi quickly spoke to MLB.com about the “other” Aaron.

"“[Hicks] has played really, really well,” Girardi said. “That’s why we continue to use him.”More from Yankees NewsYankees top prospects butt heads after Giants’ gritty win over CommandersCC Sabathia defends Yankees’ massive Aaron Judge contractScott Boras closed Yankees-Carlos Rodón deal from Fenway Park, put cherry on topOrioles are bailing out Yankees and AL East by botching free agencyGuy who caught Aaron Judge record HR ball cost himself tons of money in auction"

The problem for Girardi is deciding who Hicks plays for on any given night — especially when all three of his starting outfielders plus DH Matt Holliday are each carrying their own weight. Indeed, it’s a good problem to have.

Though Hicks has taken a fair share of pregame infield this season at both shortstop and first base, don’t expect to see him, man, those positions in an actual contest anytime soon.

As it stands now, Hicks will play here and there as long as he produces. Until an injury or cold-streak opens up a spot, this is the hand he’s been dealt.

Before you tell me that the Yankees should capitalize on the situation, and deal a player just now entering his professional prime — consider this…

Two-thirds of the team’s outfield is made up of fragile players in their mid-30s. When both Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury succumb to injuries (fingers crossed they don’t), the two typically miss weeks, not days.

And although Clint Frazier, Dustin Fowler and Blake Rutherford are down on the farm, general manager Brian Cashman has already made it clear not one of them will see the big leagues until 2018, at the earliest.

Next: Get to know left-hander Daniel Camarena

So let’s leave well enough alone, and trust that Girardi will continue to ride his super-sub when he sees fit. Because as of right now, it’s working.