Yankees' Aaron Hicks: 'Baseball wasn’t fun' during 2022 struggles

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks has opened up about the harsh experiences he endured during home games throughout his rough 2022 season.

"Baseball wasn’t fun," Hicks told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. "It was kind of one of those things where your team is winning and that’s the ultimate goal. That’s what’s fun about the game is being able to win all of the time. But when you’re not contributing, it kind of starts to feel like you’re not doing what you should be doing. I know the player I’m capable of being and I wasn’t even close to it. That’s just the way the season went." 

Hicks was routinely taunted by fans during games held at Yankee Stadium last season as he struggled at the plate. The 33-year-old slashed .216/.330/.313 with just eight home runs and 40 RBI across 130 regular-season contests and was named in October as one player impacted by an alleged "souring relationship between the Yankees and their fans."

Recently, Yankees slugger Anthony Rizzo defended Hicks amid rumors linking the Bronx Bombers with potential replacements such as Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds. Meanwhile, Hicks suggested to Kirschner he believed at points last season that a trade could benefit all involved. 

"I felt like I was trying to force things that I normally wouldn’t," Hicks explained. "I was forcing myself to get big hits. I was forcing myself to swing out of the zone to do something to help the team win. A lot of that got me into trouble. Essentially, I just lost my approach."

Hicks signed a seven-year, $70M contract extension with the Yankees ahead of the 2019 season and, according to Kirschner, will receive veto power regarding any trade if he's still with New York come Aug. 8 via 10-and-5 rights. 

Kirschner added that Hicks "knows it’s still a possibility that he could get moved" at any point before or after Opening Day.