By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Aaron Hicks provided an insurance run during the seventh inning of the Rochester Red Wings victory Monday night.
Next time the Wings leadoff hitter strides to the plate he will be wearing the uniform of the Minnesota Twins.
“It feels good to be able to go back to the big leagues and give it another try,” Hicks said after finding out about the call up after the Wings 4-0 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens.
Hitting .336 on the season including 9-of-20 with four doubles and a triple during Rochester’s recent road trip, it was just a matter of time for the former first-round draft pick.
“My approach right now is trying to stay strong up the middle,” Hicks said “Before it was just slap it up the middle. Now, it’s being strong up the middle and really staying on the ball as long as possible.”
Hicks collected 40 hits in 69 games with Minnesota in 2014. The San Pedro, California native spent 81 games with the big club in 2013.
This time he takes with him a seven-game hitting streak.
“He’s swung the bat really good,” Rochester manager Mike Quade said. “It’s always good to send a guy to the big leagues who’s gotten hot and is swinging the bat and playing well…. He’s obviously earned it. He’s played extremely well.”
Hicks went 2-for-4 in what could be his final appearance as Red Wing. He singled and scored on a Danny Ortiz double in the sixth and plated Jose Martinez in the eighth.
“It felt good especially since I saw that ball great,” Hicks said of his eighth-inning two bagger. “I hit it well. That’s kinda the feeling you want when you’re hitting especially since that was the first swing of the day left-handed.”
Hicks will join Eddie Rosario who was called up by the Twins last week.
“Any time someone leaves here I tell him I don’t want to see him,” Quade said with a smile. “Hopefully I don’t see either one of them again this summer.”
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