TAMPA, Fla. -- When Aaron Hicks had difficulty adjusting to life as the Yankees' fourth outfielder, he gained a new appreciation for athletes who are able to excel in part-time duty, but it's still an assignment that he hopes not to have this year.
Now in the early stages of competition to serve as the Yankees' Opening Day right fielder, Hicks said he ramped up his offseason batting program in early December, knowing that he would have to outproduce Aaron Judge in order to avoid the bench.
"It's very hard," said Hicks, who went 1-for-3 as the starting right fielder Thursday night.