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New York Daily News | Kristie Ackert: Aaron Hicks reported feeling healthy and 100% for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery more than a year ago. The Yankees most underrated player, Hicks is going to be counted on to man center and recover some of his defensive value that seemed to fall off a little in 2020. Between that and the Yankees’ love of putting him in the three-spot in the lineup, his stated goal of 30 home runs would be a welcome bounceback from last season.
Sports Illustrated | Max Goodman: Speaking of Yankee outfielders, Mike Tauchman had an far more disappointing campaign than Hicks last year, struggling to make any kind of offensive impact. Now faced with balancing playing time between Clint Frazier, Hicks, Tauchman and Brett Gardner, Yankee manager Aaron Boone reaffirmed his belief in Tauchman. Out of minor-league options, this is Tauchman’s last best chance to stick with the Yankees and he’s a guy that will need a big spring.
New York Post | Dan Martin: Gleyber Torres has heard your criticism. The Yankee shortstop agreed with Brian Cashman’s much-publicized critique of his conditioning last year, and remarked upon the challenges he felt navigating a world shut down by the pandemic. Torres has earned praise for his work ethic early in 2021 camp, and with the starting shortstop job his, will get all the chances he needs to prove critics wrong.