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Aaron Hicks has one of the best bats in the New York Yankees' lineup a month into the season. The former Twins' first-round draft pick started 2017 coming off the bench, but his consistency has earned more time in the starting lineup.
Hicks, who played three seasons in Minnesota, is hitting .300 with five home runs and 11 RBI. He also has more walks (11) than strikeouts (eight) and an impressive 1.059 on-base plus slugging percentage.
The switch-hitting outfielder hit his fifth home run of the season Tuesday night by blasting a 93 mph high fastball nearly into the right-field upper deck.
With the first month of the 2017 season behind us, here is a check-in on five other former Twins:
Trevor Plouffe, infielder
Plouffe returned to Target Field Tuesday batting eighth and playing third base for the Oakland Athletics. The former Twins’ first-round draft pick singled and struck out in four plate appearances while the A’s were blown out 9-1.
Oakland manager Bob Melvin told media Tuesday that Plouffe has provided a great presence in the clubhouse, but also noted his slow start.
“He’s all about his team. He’s gotten off to a little bit of a slow start, but he’s also hit some home runs, and some big home runs for us,” Melvin said. “He’s the type of guy we’ve had to hide him down in the lineup a little bit right now. But the next thing you know, with one swing of the bat it could be a three-run home run.”
Plouffe, who played seven seasons with the Twins, has a .209 batting average, four home runs and nine RBI in 25 games with Oakland.
Kurt Suzuki, catcher
Suzuki is splitting time at catcher for the Atlanta Braves and has appeared in 14 games. He struggled to catch knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey early in the season, but appears to have settled into the role after four starts together. Suzuki is hitting just .200 with one home run and eight RBI.
Ricky Nolasco, pitcher
Nolasco had his best start of the season last weekend against the A’s, holding them to just one run and striking out four through 5.2 innings. The Los Angeles Angels’ righthander has pitched well in three of five starts, but was knocked around twice in the first month to push his ERA above five. Nolasco, who spent pieces of three seasons with the Twins, has limited damage in his past two outings to improve his ERA to 4.13 with 21 strikeouts and five walks.
Tommy Milone, pitcher
Milone appeared in six games and made three starts with the Milwaukee Brewers, but was designated for assignment Monday. In 21 innings, he gave up 29 hits, 15 runs, six home runs, won one game and saved a game. The inconsistent month produced a 6.43 ERA.
Oswaldo Arcia, outfield
Arcia failed to make the Arizona Diamondbacks big-league club out of spring training, but is showing off his power in Triple A. He has a .351 average and .701 slugging percentage with five home runs, three triples, six doubles and 24 RBI in 21 games. It might not be long until Arcia, who played four seasons with the Twins, is called up.
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