During his end of season news conference on Thursday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman revealed that Aaron Hicks will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL in his right elbow. The procedure will take place in Los Angeles on Oct. 30, and the expected recovery is around 8-10 months.
Hicks was battling to return to the Yankees toward the end of the season after what was called a right elbow flexor strain at the time. He was performing baseball activities, but wasn't able to throw for awhile. Hicks fought through it and eventually made his way onto the Yankees' ALCS roster.
This is the same news Cashman dropped last year in the same news conference, which involved Didi Gregorius needing to undergo Tommy John surgery as well. He returned on June 7 this season.
Hicks wasn't the only Yankee Cashman updated in regards to having surgery after the season. Luke Voit had to undergo surgery to repair bilateral core muscles on Thursday. That core injury was the main reason he wasn't on the postseason rosters, and couldn't finish out the season.
Finally, Masahiro Tanaka underwent a normal procedure for pitchers in removing bone chips from his right elbow on Wednesday. Cashman said the Yankees fully expect him to be ready for Spring Training.
Masahiro Tanaka had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs. Done at the Hospital for Special Surgery on Wednesday. He's expected to be ready for Spring Training.
Tanaka and Voit should be good to go when the new season kicks off, but Cashman and the Yankees will have to plan for life without Hicks to start the season.