Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks has shown he can hit Triple-A pitching. Now he'll get another chance to show he belongs in the majors.
Minnesota recalled Hicks from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. He'll take the roster spot of outfielder Shane Robinson, who was placed on the family emergency list.
Hicks began the 2015 season in the minors after battling in spring training for a spot on the 25-man roster with fellow outfielders Jordan Schafer and Robinson. Hicks was the odd man out in that trio as the Twins wanted to see him develop as a more consistent hitter.
After batting .336 with 14 RBI and 10 doubles in 27 games with Rochester, it appears as if Hicks has shown he can handle minor-league pitching. But that's never been the problem for Hicks since he was taken by the Twins in the first round of the 2008 draft. He is a career .275 hitter in eight minor-league seasons.
In Hicks' two different seasons in the majors in 2013 and 2014, though, he struggled offensively. Hicks made the team out of spring training in 2013 but hit just .192 with an on-base percentage of .259. The Twins were limited for center fielders, though, so Hicks stayed in the majors until early August when he was sent to Rochester.
Hicks' struggles at the plate continued last year. During the 2014 season, Hicks changed from being a switch hitter to only batting right-handed before later reverting back to switch-hitting. He finished last year with a .215 average with just nine extra-base hits in 69 games with the Twins.
Minnesota hopes the third time is the charm for the 25-year-old Hicks, who may not have many more chances to prove he can hit in the big leagues.
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