Aaron Hicks

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #6 prospect in 2013
  Hicks may still have the best fastball in the Twins system, though he hasn't pitched since signing for $1.78 million in 2008. The Athletics wanted to draft him 12th overall as a pitcher, but he wanted to hit and the Twins were the first team to agree, picking him 14th overall. A tremendous amateur golfer, he put a poor 2011 season behind him by setting career bests for homers (13), steals (32) and full-season OPS (.844) in 2012. Hicks remains an above-average athlete whose skills are starting to catch up to his tools. He listened to Minnesota coaches and stopped swinging big for power from the left side, shortening up and improving his ability to make contact. He improved from a .228/.357/.348 performance against righthanders in 2011 to .287/.394/.434 in 2012. He's still more natural and rhythmic as a righty, batting .283/.359/.522 last season. A gliding runner, he has improved his basestealing reads and possesses plenty of range in center field. Once capable of throwing 97-mph fastballs on the mound, he retains a well above-average arm. Scouts who like Hicks believe he's developing into a top-of-the-order tablesetter, while others consider him more of a solid regular who'll hit sixth or seventh on a good team while providing premium defense in center. After playing winter ball in Venezuela, he'll head to Triple-A.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #4 prospect in 2012
  A natural athlete, Hicks doubled as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school and is a scratch golfer who jokes that he has had to start golfing lefthanded to get other Twins farmhands to play against him. Signed for $1.78 million as the 14th overall pick in 2008, he still hadn't solved high Class A three years later. Hicks' tools still stand out, starting with a plus-plus throwing arm that remains the best in the system. He's a good center fielder with above-average range. Offensive consistency is Hicks' biggest issue. His lefthanded swing remains too long and loopy, and he hit .234 against righthanders in 2011 (including the Arizona Fall League). He draws plenty of walks but hasn't tapped into his average raw power, and his basestealing skills aren't efficient enough for him to take advantage of his plus speed. Minnesota has discussed having Hicks bat solely righthanded, but enough of its instructors and scouts believe in his athleticism and aptitude for him to continue switch-hitting. Club officials believe he'll blossom late like Torii Hunter and Denard Span did and hope the breakout carries him to Double-A in 2012.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2011
  Hicks ranked No. 1 on this list in each of his first two years after signing for $1.78 million as the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft. He also ranked first on our low Class A Midwest League list in 2009, but the Twins sent him back to Beloit last season. He got off to a 1-for-30 start before regaining his footing. Hicks remains all tooled up. As a hitter, his best asset is his patience, though at times he's too passive. He has above-average raw power from his natural right side but still has work to do from the left side, where he has more of a slap approach. His above-average speed plays better in center field than it does on the bases. He has improved his route-running and reads and projects as a possible Gold Glover as he adds more polish. Some teams liked him more as a pitcher coming out of high school, thanks to his athleticism and a fastball that reached 97 mph at times, and he retains excellent arm strength, his best present tool. Hicks could hone his swing and become a five-tool center fielder with 20-25 home run power who bats in the middle of a lineup. He also may wind up more as tablesetter, along the lines of Denard Span but with better defensive ability. He'll finally move up to high Class A Fort Myers in 2011.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2010
  Hicks is a product of Long Beach's Wilson High, alma mater of such baseball luminaries as Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, 1974 American League MVP Jeff Burroughs and all-stars Bud Daley and Bobby Grich. Focusing on baseball after showing tremendous talent as a teenager golfer, Hicks was a two-way star at Wilson. He ran his fastball up to 97 mph and could have been a first-round pick as a pitcher. However, the Twins considered him the best athlete available in the 2008 draft and liked his competitiveness, as he led Wilson to a No. 1 national ranking and its first California district title in 50 years as a junior. They drafted him 14th overall--their highest first-round pick since Joe Mauer went No. 1 in 2001--and signed him for $1.78 million. Hicks ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his pro debut, then started 2009 in extended spring training. One he was assigned to low Class A Beloit in mid-June, he overcame a slow start to establish himself as the Midwest League's No. 1 prospect as well. Hicks combines five-tool athleticism with a surprisingly advanced approach at the plate. He has dynamic tools, starting with an arm that some scouts rate as an 80 on the 20-80 scale. His speed rates at least above-average if not better, and he has the tools to be a premium defender in center field. His hitting tools are in some ways similar to those of top Phillies prospect Domonic Brown, though Hicks has more explosiveness in his hands and may have more raw power. Like Brown, Hicks is more patient than most young, developing five-tool players. He repeats his swing and he recognizes pitches fairly well. He has good bat speed, especially from the left side of the plate. The questions with Hicks revolve more around how high the ceiling will be, and how quickly he arrives there. At times he was too patient for his own good last year, letting pitches he could drive go by in hitter's counts. However, it's easier to learn to unload on those pitches than to learn patience, and he has the leverage in his swing and wiry strength to take advantage in the future. He's inexperienced in baserunning and basestealing, as well as other subtle aspects of the game. He's stronger from the left side than from the right, like most switch-hitters, and his swing tends to get long from the right side. Denard Span taught the Twins some lessons. First, they want all of their center fielders to experience playing the corners in the minors, rather than learning in the majors as Span did. Expect Hicks to work in all three spots in 2010. Second, Span's development reiterated the lesson that power is often the last tool to develop. With his patience and aptitude, Hicks could move quicker than Span but come into his power down the line, perhaps like Span's predecessor, Torii Hunter. Hicks won't challenge Span anytime soon, and he may even return to low Class A to start this season. But when his skills and experience level catch up to his tools, he could take off, making his big league ETA of 2012 look conservative.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2009
  Hicks is a Los Angeles kid who doesn't fit into preconceived stereotypes. He's an African-American who spent much of the last three years playing at Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy, becoming its highest-drafted alumnus when the Twins took him 14th overall in June. He's also a scratch golfer who won a slew of tournaments as a teenager and considered a golf career. When he learned that his father played baseball professionally--Joseph Hicks was a Padres 12th-round pick in 1975 and played four seasons in the minors--he decided to focus his prodigious athletic ability on the diamond, helping Wilson High win the No. 1 national ranking and its first California Interscholastic Federation title in 50 years in 2007. Minnesota considered Hicks the best athlete in the 2008 draft, and he was the Los Angeles area's best since Darryl Strawberry was the No. 1 overall choice in June 1980. While the Twins preferred Hicks as an outfielder, other clubs were prepared to take him in the first round as a pitcher after seeing his fastball range from 94-97 mph last spring. Minnesota has no reason to question its decision, as Hicks ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League after signing quickly for $1.78 million. Sometimes it seems like there's nothing Hicks can't do. He's a premium athlete with growing skills and true five-tool ability. He's a switch-hitter who's a natural from the right side and improved from the left by lowering his hands and unleashing his bat speed. He was more polished and selective at the plate in his debut than the Twins thought he might be, and his eye allowed him to get to his above-average power potential earlier than expected. He projects to hit 20-25 homers annually as he matures. Hicks has plus-plus speed and good baserunning instincts that should improve with experience. He glides to balls in the outfield and has a top-of-the-scale throwing arm that would play in any outfield spot or on the mound if necessary. In the unlikely event he doesn't hit, he can try to make it as a pitcher. Mostly, Hicks just needs experience facing quality breaking balls. His hands are good enough that he should be able to trust them and stay back on pitches that spin. The game comes so easily to him that at time he has concentration lapses. He's still learning to be a pro in terms of handling the grind of a long season, when to show he's having fun and when to have more of a game face. Some organizations had doubts about Hicks' bat and preferred him on the mound, and one GCL stint doesn't quite answer all those questions. Hicks' tools resemble those of departed Twins center fielder Torii Hunter, though he should move more quickly through the minors than Hunter did and have better plate discipline. He's the rare combination of athleticism with a fairly polished hitting approach who also plays a premium position. Minnesota is deep in young outfielders in the majors and minors, but Hicks' combination of tools, skills and athletic ability stands out. He'll head to low Class A Beloit for his first full pro season and should make a steady climb to the majors, arriving in 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 2012
  Following three years in Class A, Hicks continued his slow, steady march to the big leagues with his finest season yet. He led the EL in runs (100), triples (11) and walks (79) while establishing personal bests in homers (13), extra-base hits (45) and steals (32). An uptick in production as a lefthanded hitter (.287/.394/.434), the result of shortening his stroke, buttressed the switch-hitting Hicks' overall batting line. He still gets to his average raw power more easily from his natural right side. He continues to swing through too many pitches from both sides of the plate to project as a high-average hitter, though his plus speed will help in that regard and on the bases. Along with his offensive growth, Hicks continues to draw equal attention for his defensive play, speed and athleticism. He glides to the ball in center field with his above-average wheels masked somewhat by his long running stride. His throws are strong and accurate.
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  Ranked Florida State League #18 prospect in 2011
  Hicks still has "all-star tools," as one FSL observer put it, but the results continue to underwhelm. He had the worst season of his four-year pro career in 2011 and hit just .195/.309/.300 in the final two months. Hicks has a quick bat and is a patient hitter, sometimes too patient. He ranked fourth in the league with 78 walks but also laid off many pitches he might have been able to drive and then swing at ones he couldn't. He mostly has doubles power right now, though he still has a lean frame and could develop more pop as he matures physically. A natural righthander, Hicks continues to struggle mightily from the left side of the plate. He batted just .228/.357/.348 as a lefty, compared to .263/.349/.401 as a righty. Hicks' defense remains ahead of his offense. He has the plus speed to play a shallow center field and go get balls, though it hasn't translated into bunting and stealing effectively. His excellent arm ranks among the best in the minors, and managers rated it the strongest in the FSL.
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  Ranked Midwest League #5 prospect in 2010
  Hicks ranked No. 1 on this list a year ago, and while he put up better numbers in his second tour of the MWL, he didn't dominate and left observers wanting more. "I wish he was hitting .300 with 20 homers," the AL scout said, "but he's so talented and does so many good things that it's worth the wait." A switch-hitter, Hicks has more balance and strength from the right side (where he hit .362/.449/.664) and is more tentative from the left (.248/.383/.339). While he drew an impressive 88 walks and doesn't chase pitches, he gets passive and doesn't attack pitches he could hammer when he's ahead in the count. He has above-average speed but still is learning the nuances of basestealing, getting caught 11 times in 32 tries. Hicks has good range to both sides in center field, where he should become a solid or better defender once his instincts improve. Though he registered just five assists in 103 games, he has one of the strongest outfield arms in the minors. He hit 97 mph with his fastball in high school, when some clubs preferred him as a pitcher.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2009
  The Twins handled Hicks cautiously, keeping him in extended spring training for two months before sending him to Beloit in mid-June. Even when he started slowly, his all-around tools were evident. He drew comparisons to the likes of Adam Jones, Dexter Fowler and Curtis Granderson. "He's the most dynamic, projectable position player I saw," a National League scout said. "He can play a premium position and he has a chance to be a five-tool guy. It's a wiry body with some leverage to it." A switch-hitter with a quick bat from both sides of the plate, Hicks shocked scouts with how well he controlled the strike zone, drawing 40 walks in half a season. A plus runner with above-average power potential once he fills out, he should be at least a 20-20 man in his prime. His swing can get long and has some holes, but he should hit for a solid average. Hicks also should be an above-average center fielder once he learns to get better jumps and take proper angles on balls. His arm rates an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and some teams preferred him on the mound after he was clocked at 97 mph in high school.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #1 prospect in 2008
  Hicks entered the 2008 draft regarded as the top two-way prep prospect, as teams were split on whether he fit best as a pitcher or position player. After revealing his desire to play every day, Hicks went 14th overall and signed for $1.78 million. He tallied two hits and two RBIs in his first professional game and continued his success at the plate throughout the summer. Hicks is a switch-hitter with real five-tool potential. He showed the ability to hit for average and power from both sides of the plate, He showed a good eye for the strike zone, took his walks and also worked to improve his pitch selection. "He's starting to realize which pitches to drive and which to lay off," GCL Twins manager Jake Mauer said. "He's also learning to recognize pitchers' moves and counts and when to take advantage of them." A gifted athlete, Hicks combines a very strong arm and above-average speed to play tremendous defense in center field. With more experience and improved jumps, he should improve his range and basestealing ability. He has one of the stronger center-field arms in the game.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #72 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #45 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #19 prospect in 2010
• Ranked Baseball America's #39 prospect in 2009

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Hicks may still have the best fastball in the Twins system, though he hasn't pitched since signing for $1.78 million in 2008. The Athletics wanted to draft him 12th overall as a pitcher, but he wanted to hit and the Twins were the first team to agree, picking him 14th overall. A tremendous amateur golfer, he put a poor 2011 season behind him by setting career bests for homers (13), steals (32) and full-season OPS (.844) in 2012. Scouting Report: Hicks remains an above-average athlete whose skills are starting to catch up to his tools. He listened to Minnesota coaches and stopped swinging big for power from the left side, shortening up and improving his ability to make contact. He improved from a .228/.357/.348 performance against righthanders in 2011 to .287/.394/.434 in 2012. He's still more natural and rhythmic as a righty, batting .283/.359/.522 last season. A gliding runner, he has improved his basestealing reads and possesses plenty of range in center field. Once capable of throwing 97-mph fastballs on the mound, he retains a well above-average arm. The Future: Scouts who like Hicks believe he's developing into a top-of-the-order tablesetter, while others consider him more of a solid regular who'll hit sixth or seventh on a good team while providing premium defense in center. After playing winter ball in Venezuela, he'll head to Triple-A.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Hicks doubled as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school and is a scratch golfer who jokes that he has had to start golfing lefthanded to get other Twins farmhands to play against him. Signed for $1.78 million as the 14th overall pick in 2008, he still hadn't solved high Class A three years later. He spent two full seasons at Beloit and posted a career-low .712 OPS at Fort Myers in 2011. Scouting Report: Hicks' tools still stand out, starting with a plus-plus throwing arm that remains the best in the system. He's a good center fielder with above-average range. Offensive consistency is Hicks' biggest issue. His lefthanded swing remains too long and loopy, and he hit .234 against righthanders in 2011 (including the Arizona Fall League). He draws plenty of walks but hasn't yet learned to take advantage of hitters' counts to use his average raw power. His basestealing skills aren't efficient enough for him to take advantage of his plus speed. The Future: Minnesota has discussed having Hicks bat solely righthanded, but enough of its instructors and scouts believe in his athleticism and aptitude for him to continue switch-hitting. He'll have to put in more work to polish up his swing and move up to Double-A New Britain sometime in 2012, though he'll likely repeat high Class A to start the season. Club officials believe he'll blossom late like Torii Hunter and Denard Span did.