Aaron Hicks was back at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, but the team will have to wait a bit longer for its center fielder to make his long-awaited season debut after has been sidelined since suffering a lower-back injury during spring training.
Hicks took batting practice before Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Mariners, but he is expected to play three more rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being activated Monday, when the Yankees return to The Bronx to face the Orioles after a weekend trip to play the Rays.
Though Hicks said his back felt fine, he wants to fine-tune his swing after going hitless in 11 at-bats with Single-A Tampa.
“I just need to get more swings,’’ Hicks said. “I’m headed in the right direction.”
Hicks added he doesn’t know how the injury occurred, but will add core exercise to his training program to make sure he doesn’t have any more back issues.
“I’ve got no complaints now, it just sucks it took this long to get back,’’ said Hicks, who signed a seven-year, $70 million extension during spring training. “I didn’t think it was something that would linger this long. It just wouldn’t go away.”