Aaron Hicks Needs to Be Yankees Everyday Left Fielder

If the Yankees want consistent production out of their left fielder, it’s time Aaron Hicks replaces Brett Gardner… for good.

You’d think when a part-time player drives in all three runs for his team, courtesy of two home runs — one from each side of the plate — said player would be the main storyline following a 3-2 victory. But that wasn’t the case for Aaron Hicks and the Yankees on Thursday night.

Hicks’ offensive payload was overshadowed by Luis Severino‘s utter brilliance on the mound. On the same day that Yankees received the devastating news that their No. 6 overall prospect James Kaprielian will undergo Tommy John surgery, likely keeping him out of action until the midway point of 2018, Severino stifled the Rays’ bats, striking out a career-high 11 in seven innings — catapulting the Yanks to their fourth win in a row.

Hicks, who was in the conversation to be the starting right fielder up until the eleventh-hour, made the most out of replacing Brett Gardner, who was recovering from an NFL-like collision with Rays first baseman Rickie Weeks Jr, just the day before.

After hitting a first inning home run from the left side of the plate to give his club an early 1-0 lead, Hicks jumped all over a 1-1 changeup from reliever Xavier Cedeno in the seventh. With Jacoby Ellsbury already on base, the two-run bomb would be enough for the Yankees to sweep the Rays — raising their early season record to 5-4.

While watching Hicks round the bases to a standing ovation from the 34,772 in attendance, I kept wondering what this switch-hitter would be capable of IF he were given the opportunity to play each and every day.

For those who continue to point out that Hicks struggled mightily in his first season in the Bronx — we get it.

I prefer to point out that getting into any kind of rhythm is nearly impossible playing once or twice a week. Being a full-time designated hitter is hard enough — it takes a certain type of strong-minded individual to excel when they aren’t fully immersed in all nine innings of a game.

So to pigeonhole Hicks in unfair. A better argument is to consider that the 27-year-old Hicks would far exceed the production of Gardner, the Yankees’ current left fielder.

I’m fully aware that Gardner is a fan favorite, and he’s earned that moniker through his rough and tumble 10-year Yankee career. Regardless of the fact that he won a Gold Glove Award last season, Gardner’s all-around skills are on the decline. It’s only natural for a 33-year-old ballplayer.

Gardy’s loping swing constantly results in lazy fly balls to left field. He no longer steals bases with any regularity, which is attributed to his injury-prone ways. When the guy hits the dirt, you just never know how long it’ll take him to get up. And no, I’m not talking about his collision with Weeks Jr.

For those who counter Gardner’s offensive inabilities with his defensive prowess, I agree he can still go get “it” with the best of them, but so can Hicks.

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Last season, Hicks threw a ball from right field to home plate that was clocked at an Aroldis Chapman-like 105 MPH. Not that arm speed is everything, but it should not be underestimated when talking about outfield play. Ellsbury, for instance, has never had an arm — teams know they can tag up on him at will. They can’t do that with Hicks.

Hicks’ defensive game is actually pretty reminiscent of Gardner’s. They are both fluid, able to cover a ton of green space — unafraid to crash into a wall if it means coming up with a game-changing play.

But when you look at the Yankees lineup as a whole and figure that Ellsbury can be just as productive at the leadoff spot, and that contract of his makes him virtually untradeable, the addition of Hicks makes much more sense to the overall scheme.

On any given night, Hicks’ bat can carry the Yankees’ offense (see Thursday). Can Gardner’s do that? The answer is NO.

Gardner’s never had to be that guy. His game isn’t built for power, it’s built for speed. Much like an NFL tailback, when the legs of a speedster begin to go, so does his worth.

In the midst of an organizational rebuild, Hicks offers more value to the cause. Gardner has been a loyal soldier, but the time has come for his replacement. Trading him to a team that can use his skill set, while bringing back something tangible via trade is a wise business decision.

It also opens $11.5M next season, plus a $2M buyout in 2019, that can be put towards acquiring Shohei Otani.

Next: Kaprielian's Tommy John Decision Is the Right Move

In a heartfelt plea, take the emotion of the decision, and you too will see that the time is now for Hicks to play on a regular basis.