Travis Talks prospect list: Prospect #1

After going from player number 50 all way down we and finally at in my opinion the top prospect in the whole Twins organization. He is something special who I believe is the future for the Twins. I hope you enjoy this and if you have questions on him or anyone I put in my top 50 either leave a comment in the comment box or email me at travis_aune@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading my top 50 because I put a lot of work into it and hope you enjoyed.

1. Aaron Hicks CF 19 (10/2/1989)

2008 teams: Gulf Coast League Twins

• Aaron Hicks was the Twins first round draft pick, 14th overall, in the 2008 draft out of high school in Long Beach, California. After signing with the Twins Hicks was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Twins. In 45 games there he hit .318 with 4 homeruns and 27 rbi's and 12 stolen bases. He also had 10 doubles and 4 triples for an ops of .900. This year he started the season in Extended Spring Training and just recently got called up to Beloit. Aaron Hicks really has it all and it gets mentioned alot, but he is the prototypical 5 tool player in that he can hit for average, hit for power, great speed, great arm, accurate arm. This should tell you all you need to know about how freakish of an athelte Aaron is many teams had him as a first round pick as a pitcher where he touched 97 on the radar gun in high school. He made it clear that he preferred to be an outfielder and that was fine with the Twins who are looking for that type of player. I have heard Twins scouts claim he is the top prospect the Twins have had since Joe Mauer. That is saying quite a bit considering how Joe Mauer has turned out. The thing about him too is he is only 19 years old and you can take your time with him as the Twins should. I have heard fans complaining that some first round picks are already in the bigs and ours wasn't even at A ball. What I tell them is that is like comparing Apples to Oranges it is not the same thing because those guys are college guys and those guys don't have the ceiling like Hicks does. I really believe if you are patient with him Aaron Hicks has the ability to be really special, like franchise player special. He is a switch hitter thatplays center who can hit from both sides of the plate so the obvious comparision is to Carlos Beltran of the Mets. If Hicks turns out like that I would be pretty happy with him. I think he has the ability to be a 30-30 guy eventually at the major league level and be a gold glove guy in the outfielder. Seriously people be patient with him because you will not be disappointed because we have on our hands another superstar in the Mauer, Morneau range and just enjoy the ride because Aaron Hicks will be the Twins next American Idol.


• 2009: Spend season playing center for Beloit


• Projection: I view him as a superstar centerfielder who could hit 30-30 for the Twins and could be with the Twins as early as 2013 and be there for 10-15 years.