Baltimore Orioles Activate Veteran Outfielder Aaron Hicks Off of Injured List
The Baltimore Orioles have activated outfielder Aaron Hicks from the 10-day injured list, the team announced Monday.
To make room for Hicks on the active 26-man roster, Baltimore optioned outfielder Colton Cowser to Triple-A Norfolk.
Hicks had been on the injured list since July 25 due to a left hamstring strain. On Aug. 11, the Orioles sent the veteran outfielder on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Norfolk, where he went 1-for-8 with three strikeouts and a run across two games.
Before he went to the injured list, Hicks was batting .252 with six home runs, 20 RBI, three stolen bases and a .784 OPS in 42 games as a member of the Orioles.
Hicks opened the 2023 season with the New York Yankees, marking his eighth consecutive year with the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees designated the 33-year-old Hicks for assignment on May 20, though, midway through the seven-year, $70 million contract he signed with the team in 2019.
The Orioles signed Hicks as a free agent on May 30.
Over the course of his major league career – which dates back to 2013 with the Minnesota Twins – Hicks is a .231 hitter with 107 home runs, 376 RBI, 117 doubles, 68 stolen bases, a .716 OPS and a 13.8 WAR.
Hicks is the second experienced outfielder to come off the injured list for the Orioles this week. Former All-Star Cedric Mullins was activated Friday, and he almost single-handedly lifted Baltimore to a win on Sunday.
With Hicks and Mullins back in the fold, Baltimore now has plenty of options in the outfield alongside power-hitting right fielder Anthony Santander and first-time All-Star Austin Hays.
The Orioles are scheduled to open up a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Monday night at 9:40 p.m. ET.
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