NEW YORK — Returning as a customer to Yankee Stadium, Aaron Hicks knew what to anticipate. He’d seen loads of guys come to the Bronx and get booed over his eight-year stint with the Yankees.
“They’re usually fairly robust on visiting gamers,” Hicks mentioned previous to Monday’s Orioles-Yankees collection opener.
However they’ve been particularly robust on Hicks this week.
Regardless, Hicks shrugged off the repeated boos — and drew extra of them — when he belted a solo house run within the fifth inning of Baltimore’s 8-4 loss to New York on Tuesday afternoon. It was the 33-year-old outfielder’s sixth homer of the season, 5 of which have come since he was launched by the Yankees on Could 26 and signed with the O’s on Could 30.
It was additionally Hicks’ fiftieth profession house run at Yankee Stadium. Nonetheless, it was the primary time he went deep right here whereas not in Yankees pinstripes since Aug. 17, 2015, when he was with the Twins.
Hicks didn’t obtain a heat welcome whereas going 1-for-4 with a single on Monday. There have been even boos from the group when the Yankees performed a “Welcome again” montage on the video scoreboard early within the sport.
“I imply, it was like that once I was right here,” mentioned Hicks, likening the damaging response to what he heard earlier this yr. “I don’t actually know the best way to clarify it higher than, it’s simply what it’s.”
Anticipated or not, has Hicks been dissatisfied by what he has heard over the previous two days?
“I positively loved my time right here,” Hicks mentioned. “I loved being a Yankee, and I loved the workforce. It’s a type of issues the place it’s just a little disappointing, however on the identical time … they’re going to do what they’re going to do, and I can’t management that.”
Maybe it’s taking place attributable to Hicks’ lackluster end to his time with New York. He slashed .188/.263/.261 with one homer and 5 RBIs in 28 video games earlier than getting designated for assignment on Could 20, which led to his launch.
Or perhaps it’s taking place as a result of Hicks has thrived since signing with Baltimore. By 28 video games with the Orioles, he’s slashing .264/.379/.494 with 9 extra-base hits and 13 RBIs.
“I simply assume that alternatives and accidents and stuff like that form of occurred,” Hicks mentioned. “I form of went down a struggling highway which I actually couldn’t get myself out of it. I really feel like once I began to have success, I actually wasn’t given a possibility. And now that I’m over right here, I’m getting quite a lot of alternatives, and I’ve been making an attempt to take advantage of it.”
Hicks has nonetheless seemingly loved his return to the Bronx. He caught up with some former teammates on Monday, a few of whom he has saved in contact with since his departure. Hicks mentioned he texted Aaron Choose when the slugger went on the injured record in early June, and he incessantly chats with Willie Calhoun.
However Hicks has additionally loved attending to know his new teammates in a clubhouse the place he has been warmly embraced.
“I do know that he was injury-riddled just a little bit there towards the top of his stretch right here,” mentioned Orioles right-hander Kyle Gibson, who was additionally teammates with Hicks on the Twins from 2013-15. “However taking part in with him in Minnesota and understanding how good of an athlete he’s and the way good of a participant he’s, he’s slot in rather well right here.”
Added supervisor Brandon Hyde: “We do not have a ton of older veteran presence in our lineup, and so I hoped that he may come right here and simply perhaps play simple and play like he has nothing to lose, and he did that.”
Hicks might have gotten a little bit of revenge together with his house run, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to snap the O’s (49-35) out of their current funk. They’ve misplaced six of their previous seven video games and 11 of their previous 18.
With 5 video games to go till the All-Star break, Baltimore has solely a two-game benefit over New York for the highest spot within the American League Wild Card standings. The 2 groups might be tied by Thursday, except the Orioles can get again on monitor.
As Hicks absolutely continues to get booed within the Bronx, he’ll concentrate on making an attempt to assist his new workforce finish its skid in opposition to his outdated one.
“You’ve received to manage your errors,” Hicks mentioned. “Can’t give workforce additional outs, and also you’ve received to play clear baseball. You’ve received to have the ability to drive runs in at any time when you may. That’s just about the way you’ve received to do it. Simply preserve grinding, don’t cease combating.”
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Printed : 2023-07-04 23:58:00
