Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks has officially declared himself out for Opening Day.
The 29-year-old told ESPN's Coley Harvey that he received a second cortisone shot for his lower back injury on Sunday but expects to return for the Bombers' second series against the Tigers on April 1.
GM Brian Cashman cast doubt on the possibility of Hicks being ready by Opening Day on Friday, saying that the outfielder would probably need some more at-bats before he can re-join the team by then.
Hicks, who signed a seven-year, $70 million extension with the Yankees at the start of Spring Training, has played in just four Grapefruit League games with 10 plate appearances before the back injury.
Hicks is a career .236/.328/.396 hitter but is coming off the best season of his career in which he had career-highs in games played (137), home runs (27), RBI (79), hits (119) and walks (90).