Hicks Following in Father's Footsteps

New Britain, CT - Joseph Hicks never wanted his son to play baseball, much less make a career out of the sport. If New Britain outfielder Aaron Hicks' father had had his way his son would be following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods - and not his own.

The elder Hicks put in his time as a professional baseball player. He spent seven seasons chasing a dream that so many hopeful young men share. Joseph was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 12^th round of the 1975 amateur draft and debuted with the Walla Walla Padres. The outfielder was in the midst of a steady pro career when he was hit in the left eye by a pitch that injured his orbital bone. He never fully recovered. After his experience, Joseph wanted to keep his son away from the game.

"He actually wanted me to play golf," said Aaron Hicks. "Ever since I could walk pretty much I was playing golf. He actually just wanted a golf partner to go out there every day and play a little. I didn't really start playing baseball until I was about 13."

Aaron had other ideas, though, and, despite sharing his father's passion for golf, he opted to pursue a baseball career.

"I found out that my dad did play professional baseball for the Padres," said Aaron. "Ever since then I've been playing ball."

The younger Hicks never knew of his father's baseball background until he stumbled across one of his dad's old bats.

"I was just messing around in the backyard one day and I happened to have one of my dad's bats in my hands," said Aaron, who, as he played around with the bat, swung it against the tree and ended up breaking it. "My dad came outside and was pissed off because it was his last bat."

Aaron was confused to as why his father even ever had the bat. His brother finally told him that their father had played professional ball.

"It was kind of like a shock to me," said the younger Hicks.

It was all Hicks needed to spark an interest in the game and a desire to follow in his dad's footsteps. From that day forward, Hicks took baseball seriously and his own path to the pros began. Hicks became one of the many beneficiaries of the Urban Youth Academy, the MLB's inner-city initiative which first opened in Compton, CA in 2006 and provides free baseball and softball instruction to Southern California youth. It became the place where Hicks was able to first hone his natural skills and where he signed his name on a Twins' contract. Hicks is still connected to the Urban Youth Academy, participating in, of all things, celebrity golf tournaments.

Along with the experience from the Urban Youth Aacdemy, Hicks relied upon his natural athletic to become a star at Woodrow Wilson High School. Scouts soon noticed the Long beach native's talents and dubbed him with the infamous "five-tool prospect" label.

Come draft day, Minnesota maintained its tradition of selecting five-tool outfield prospects when the Twins nabbed Hicks with the 14^th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 Draft. His own aspirations were finally being realized.

"It was everything I dreamed of," said Hicks of being drafted. "I was in high school. All I wanted to do was to get drafted even though I signed with the University of Southern California. I still wanted to be a pro just like my dad was."

It was surprising even to Hicks when it was the Twins who came calling on draft day, though.

"I actually had no idea I was going to Minnesota," he said. "I heard I was either going to go sixth overall or ninth overall and I knew I wasn't getting past the Dodgers at 15."

With the Twins, Hicks soon found himself perhaps right where he belonged - with a team with a great history of producing center field stars and, in some cases, legends. Hicks realizes he has big shoes to fill with the storied history of the Twins' outfield. He knows he is now playing the same position in New Britain Stadium that so many young center fielders full of promise stopped along their way to a big league career. Among those players is former Rock Cat and current Twins' outfielder Denard Span. Just like Torii Hunter once took Span under his wing, it is Span who has returned the favor for Hicks.

"Span takes care of me a lot," Hicks said. "He told me about the line that I'm coming after with Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter and all those guys. I understand what I have ahead and what my duty is."

For now, all Hicks can do is focus on his own game and hope to one day reach the final destination of the big leagues. He has already made a name for himself in the baseball world, including being ranked in the Top 50 Prospects for three seasons with his highest ranking coming in 2010. This season, he entered the season rated by MLB.com as the 72^nd-best prospect. His ranking may have fallen but he is in the midst of a breakout season playing in what is often regarded as the make-it-or-break-it level.

"I'm just trying to be more consistent," Hicks said. "I'm just trying to make sure my game in all aspects is there. I just don't want to be playing defense great and not doing anything at the plate. During the off-season, I made sure I was ready to go in all aspects and that I was doing what I had to to make sure that my game was ready for Spring Training."

The hard work has been paid off so far. In 81 games with the Rock Cats, he has batted .275 with 10 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 39 RBI. He has also scored 55 runs and swiped a team-best 19 bases.

Perhaps the fact that he is a minor leaguer in his fifth season of professional ball rather than a kid with promise has helped him focus on his play on the field.

"You really don't feel like there's pressure any more. There's more guys coming up that are younger than you and they're top prospects, too. It seems like the older you get the more you start fading out a little bit but I don't think anything of being a top prospect," said Hicks. "I just want to go out there and play ball hard and just have fun."

That is exactly what Hicks has done for the Rock Cats all season. The 6'2," 185-lb. switch-hitter has shown that he does in fact have all the tools. He can hit for average, has shown some power, undoubtedly has speed, and has turned in some highlight reel plays in the outfield. It's the last part of his game in which Hicks takes the most pride.

"Games are won by defense," he explained. "If I prevent guys from scoring runs and I'm doing what I have to do to help my team win out there in the outfield that's how you (win)."

Hicks is showing no signs of slowing down. In 13 games in July, he has gone 18-for-49 (.367) with two homers, four RBI and three stolen bases. He has also scored 15 runs. Despite his personal feats, Hicks credits his team for his own success. With a team that is battling for first-place in the Eastern Division, success seems to be contagious in the dugout.  

"I feel like the more I get on base allows us to score more runs. It gets us more W's," he said. "All I want to do right now is to get on base whether it's a hit or a bunt hit or anything even on an error. I just want to try to get in position for guys like (Chris) Colabello  and (Evan) Bigley to drive me in."

Hicks will continue to play a large part in the Rock Cats' playoff chase this season. It will likely just be another chapter in the story of his own playing career. His father, no longer wishing his son to avoid a baseball career, will now be one of his biggest supporters.

"He still loves the game," said Hicks, "and me playing it."