5 bold predictions for New York Yankees in 2021: Big year for Giancarlo Stanton?

4. Aaron Hicks will walk over 120 times

Boone’s intention to hit Hicks at No. 3 in his batting order has understandably raised some eyebrows amongst the team’s passionate fan base. The veteran outfielder doesn’t have the prototypical combination of power and high contact for that spot in the order.

What Hicks does have is the ability to walk at a prodigious rate. Opposing pitchers who need him to chase pitches out of the zone are frequently left frustrated as he walks to first base after taking four balls.

Hicks’ current career high for walks in a season is the 90 times he received a free pass during the 2018 campaign. That total is going to skyrocket this year. Hitting right in front of Giancarlo Stanton is going to provide him with a ton of protection. Pitchers working hard to avoid making a mistake to Hicks are going to throw even more balls outside the strike zone as a result.

Yankees fans want to see a higher average and more power from Hicks in 2021, but the truth is he’s more likely to give him even more of what he’s contributed in previous seasons. An uptick in batting average and home runs would be nice, but it’s the walk total that will continue to drive his value to Boone and the team’s coaching staff.