BALTIMORE — Aaron Hicks was again within the leadoff spot Saturday evening. It was the primary time this season the middle fielder was main off and the ninth completely different lineup Aaron Boone has used this season.
“A lot of times it’s been [because] one guy’s out,” Boone stated of his lineup modifications. “Josh Donaldson was leading off there for a while against right-handers and he was out of the lineup … and next day he’s in it’s a lefty so it’s a little different on the look. So, I think as you get going, again, as if you’re healthy, things tend to settle in a little bit more, even more consistently.”
But Boone likes Hicks again atop the lineup, particularly since he’s gotten off to a great begin. Hicks is slashing .300/ .417/.450 with a house run, two RBI and 4 walks.
“I think he’s been pretty good so far. He’s certainly getting his hits, he’s gotten on base, kind of a big homer for us a few days ago. So, I think going to play winter ball for him was valuable and helpful,” Boone stated. “And kind of gave him a little confidence heading into the winter as far as just getting some game reps under his belt and making sure that the wrist was good to go. And then in spring training, I thought he handled the volume well, and was really working and grinding and wanting to get as many of those bats as [he] can. So, I feel like he’s in a pretty good spot.”
Hicks missed most of final season after having wrist surgical procedure. He missed time in 2019 with elbow points that finally required Tommy John surgical procedure.
Before that, nonetheless, Hicks was an everyday leadoff hitter. Saturday evening was his ninety fifth begin within the leadoff spot.
It’s one thing Boone wouldn’t hesitate to do once more.
“Possibly, I mean, Hicks is one of those guys that you feel good about a lot of places in the lineup,” Boone stated of the change hitter. “So, yeah, it’s possible.”
COVID CONCERNS
Boone isn’t worrying about who might be obtainable to him in two weeks. The Yankees will make their first journey to Toronto for a collection that begins in 16 days with the Canadian authorities’s COVID-19 journey guidelines, no unvaccinated participant might be allowed in for the collection.
“I’m not,” Boone stated when requested if he was nervous about that journey. “But we’ll see. I don’t have any say on it right now. I don’t think it’ll be an issue though.”
According to a current report, the Yankees nonetheless have two gamers unvaccinated. The A’s simply positioned three gamers on the restricted listing, which means they don’t must pay them, and left them within the U.S. earlier than beginning their collection in Toronto.
According to Canadian guidelines, a participant must have had their remaining dose of the vaccine on Sunday to enter the nation May 1, the evening earlier than the Yankees collection begins in Toronto.
CHAPMAN STRUGGLES
Matt Blake stated he was shocked when nearer Aroldis Chapman threw his first pitch Friday evening and it was solely 93 mph, however the pitching coach watched fastidiously and feels the 34-year-old is ok.
“He does take something off sometimes to try and make sure he throws strikes,” Blake stated. “I think after the night before, he was being very careful. And his velocity fluctuated there. He did hit 99, too.”
Chapman had a tough evening Thursday in New York, strolling the bases loaded on 16 pitches, solely 4 of which discovered the strike zone. He was yanked for Michael King, who acquired the Yankees out of the jam. In the eleventh Friday evening, Chapman was referred to as on to scrub up a bases-loaded jam and he walked within the successful run.
The nearer stated he felt nice and Boone stated he wasn’t nervous about it.
“It’s fluctuated. I actually thought his stuff was good. Even the fastball. The velocity was good. It seemed like it was 94 to 98 in that range. But I thought his stuff was pretty crisp,” Boone stated. “And I truly thought he threw the ball effectively final evening after a tricky outing clearly the evening earlier than the place he actually struggled and didn’t actually get in that good rhythm.
“I thought last night was very different and obviously about as tough a situation as you can walk into … but he was much cleaner and more competitive with his pitches last night.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com