RADIO
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks looks ready for Opening Day, and he could return to being a staple in the club's loaded lineup thanks to his on-base skills and top-notch fielding. Fantasy baseball players should add him ASAP.
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ team leagues
ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues
ANALYSIS: Want to invest cheaply in a likely regular piece of the Yankees' offense who might've slipped past your opponents due to the long COVID-19 layoff?
The switch-hitting, slick-fielding Aaron Hicks appears close to a return after recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in late October. Though Tommy John requires a year-plus (often 18-month) recovery for a pitcher, this nine-month rehab stretch often resembles enough of a window for a batter to rejoin game action. (Hicks has been in intrasquad lineups, but monitor ensuing reports on his Opening Day status.)
Hicks endured a rough 2019 campaign as he attempted a path of rest and recovery to stave off the procedure, but from 2017-2018, he averaged 21 homers, 10.5 stolen bases, and a handy .255/.368/.470 slash line.
As long as the 30-year-old is ready to go, his defense should keep him on the field nearly every day. Though he's expected to occupy a lower-third spot in the lineup, the residual impact of taking cuts alongside the Yankees' stacked bats should bolster his potential for runs and RBIs, especially for the low bar of a fifth fantasy outfielder, at which he can help you immediately.
If your league counts on-base percentage, go the extra few dollars on a bid.
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