Game 118: Rays (Kluber) at Yankees (German)

Just in case Florial or Oswaldo hit a HR:

NEW YORK — Aaron Hicks made a here-and-gone appearance in the Yankees clubhouse during the hour the media was in there Tuesday afternoon.

He looked depressed.

He’s in a deep, deep slump and was out of manager Aaron Boone’s lineup again.

The switch-hitter was hoping to be back in there after his disastrous season hit rock bottom the night before when he misjudged a fly ball in deep center that led to the opening run of a 4-0 loss to the Rays and was 0-for-3 at the plate with a two-on, two-out strikeout and a bases-loaded, one-out chopper to the pitcher that turned into an inning-ending double play.

With five hits in his last 53 at-bats and a .218 season average with six homers in 102 games, Hicks sat the bench for all nine innings of Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Come Wednesday night, Hicks probably will sit again even though three Yankees who play outfield — Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Carpenter and newcomer Harrison Bader — remain on the injured list.

The Yankees trading Jordan Montgomery for Bader on Aug. 2 was a sign that they’re ready to move on from Hicks, who has three seasons and $39.5 million remaining on his seven-year, $70-million contract after 2022.

Another sign figures to come Wednesday. The Yankees will be summoning in Estevan Florial from Triple-A, NJ Advance Media baseball columnist Bob Klapisch reported Tuesday night.


This call-up probably would lead to more bench time for Hicks because Florial is a five-tool center fielder prospect who finally looks ready for a real major league opportunity after several years of injury issues and disappointing offensive numbers as a Yankees minor leaguer.

If Florial goes into the outfield mix, he perhaps could get regular at-bats for the rest of the season, or at least until the injured Yankees get healthy in the coming days and weeks.

Aaron Judge talked up Florial after Tuesday’s loss, the Yankees’ third in a row and 11th in their last 13 games.

“I haven’t checked the stat line on (Florial), but during the game they show what some of the minor leaguers are doing and I always see his name flashing up on the board going 3-for-4 with a homer, stealing two bases. He’s a special talent.

“The times I got a chance to play with him … the guy always wants to learn. He’s a hard worker. He does a little things to help his team, so if that’s true that he’s coming up here — I don’t know, I haven’t heard that — he’ll definitely help us out.”

Florial, 24, has been one of the best players in the International League this season batting .286 with 26 doubles, 14 homers, 39 RBI, a league-high 32 steals and an .858 OPS in 90 games.

“I think this is the best year he’s had in a while where he’s been mostly healthy and put up a really productive offensive season that kind of matches up with the skill set and the tools that he’s always flashed to us,” Boone said. “He’s certainly earned putting himself in that mix (for a call-up), so we’ll see.”

The left-handed-hitting Dominican was hitless in 11 at-bats with the Yankees during his three short call-ups earlier this season, but was 1-for-3 in his major league debut in 2020 and batted .300 in 20 at-bats over 11 games last season.

“I feel like even in his short stints with us over the years, even in years where he hasn’t had the kind of year he’s having this year, he’s represented well,” Boone said. “You see it. This year, I think he’s mostly been healthy and put that season together at a higher level in the minor leagues, and hopefully that’s something that is a sign of him getting ready to knock in and break through.”

Oswaldo's first roll call!

And now his first chance! He catches a pop up a little weirdly! lol