One-hundred at-bats.
That’s how long Aaron Hicks gives himself to start feeling good at the plate each year. Most of them usually come during spring training.
But Hicks didn’t have that this year.
After signing a $70 million extension this offseason, Hicks missed a game early in the Grapefruit League. Then a few more. Then a cortisone shot, and a week or so later, a second cortisone shot. He missed Opening Day, then the first six weeks of the season. He didn’t return until May 15, didn’t cross that 100 at-bat benchmark until June 19.