Longtime Yankees outfielder unsure of current role with team

Aaron Hicks has played over 600 games for the New York Yankees across the past six years, but after failing to receive a single start in the team's season-opening series against the San Francisco Giants, he is questioning his role with the World Series contender.

In short, he simply does not know. 

Not only has Hicks yet to draw a start, Isiah Kiner-Falefa — a career infielder with zero outfield starts in the major leagues — received the call in center on Sunday. 

“I have no idea what my role is,” Hicks said to The Athletic on Sunday morning before the Yankees' 6-0 win over the Giants. “It’s kind of uncertain.”

“I just want to play. I don’t want to come off the bench and face closers all day. I want to play the field, I want to play everyday and it’s just what I want to do. I want to start. I really don’t know what else to say.”

Hicks has had just one at-bat this season, which resulted in a strikeout.

The veteran switch-hitter is far from a star and has had his ups and downs with the Yankees, but his overall lack of at-bats, as well as Kiner-Falefa's Sunday start, are telling. 

Especially given that Kiner-Falefa is not an offensive threat in the slightest. Any value he had comes from his play defensively at shortstop — but he lost that starting job to prized-prospect Anthony Volpe. 

The Yankees have given outfield starts to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Oswaldo Cabrera and now Kiner-Falefa to open the season. Just where Hicks fits in that mix is an unknown, even for the player himself.