Yankees outcast looks like a new man with the Orioles

Most Yankees fans were happy to be rid of Aaron Hicks, but he looks good in Baltimore Orioles orange. 

Aaron Hicks’ 2023 season was in disastrous territory when the New York Yankees assigned him to the minors and subsequently released him last week. The Baltimore Orioles, however, swooped in and signed Hicks. Now he’s looking quite good for the Yanks’ division rival.

It’s hard to overstate how grave the Hicks situation was in New York. He was slashing .188/.263/.261 with one home run and 13 hits in 76 plate appearances. His -0.5 WAR was the cherry on top of a god-awful statistical profile. It’s no wonder Yankee fans were pleased to see him removed from the lineup.

With the Orioles, however, the 33-year-old may have found new life.

Aaron Hicks is lighting it up for the Orioles after his release from the New York Yankees

Now in his fourth game with the O’s, the Hicks experience has been nothing but positive for Baltimore fans. He’s 5-11 at the plate with a triple and three walks. He looks to have plenty of pop behind his bat.

And it’s not just solid plate appearances from Hicks. He’s also getting the job done in centerfield, including this spectacular play to rob the Giants of three-run home run.

Sometimes in sports, all a struggling player needs is a change of scenery and a vote of confidence from new management. The Orioles are 2.5 games ahead of New York in the standings and have to feel great about their new addition. The Yanks, meanwhile, are still searching for answers in the outfield — especially with Aaron Judge now banged up.

Hicks spent eight years with New York before his 2023 collapse. He’s capable of productive runs, such as his 27-homer, 79-RBI season in 2018. If he can make consistent contact and unearth some of that old power for the O’s, he could end up helping them keep their distance from New York in the standings.

Life is funny like that sometimes.