Spring Training is a time for optimism among fans, but there does not seem to be much of that for New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks.
Yankees fans were true to mid-season form, welcoming the 33-year-old switch hitter to a chorus of boos as he stepped into the box for his first Spring Training at-bat in Tampa on Sunday.
It has become a familiar sound for Hicks as Yankees fans have seemingly lost their patience with the outfielder following an abysmal 2022 season in which he slashed .216/.330/.313 with eight home runs and 40 RBI.
Of course, Hicks has the power to change the fans’ attitude toward him.
Those boos quickly turned into cheers when Hicks lined a single into right field — a hit that would have likely been an out last year, however, a new rule banning shifts has opened up a hole in the outfield for left-handed pull hitters.
It will not just be Yankees fans Hicks will have to win over, but also the front office and his manager.
Hicks is essentially battling for the starting left field spot with Oswaldo Cabrera, who played 44 games in left last year after never playing the position previously.
But it is also a job he can easily lose in the regular season as well. The Yankees spent the offseason showing interest in several different options in left field but were unable to complete a deal for any of them.
One name in particular to watch for is Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who has requested a trade out of Pittsburgh and has been connected to the Yankees.
For now, all Hicks can do is focus on winning the job out of spring and trying to turn those boos into cheers as he did in his first at-bat on Sunday.
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