Liam

Hicks

Just two days off the injured list, Hicks has notched two hits in each game since he’s returned. It must be nice to return from a 10-day layoff in Coors Field and immediately get your confidence back. He’s slotted right back into the top third of the Marlins’ lineup and remains a high batting average run producer.

It’s phenomenal timing for fantasy purposes as Hicks returns to Miami’s lineup for Tuesday’s showdown against the Rockies at high-octane Coors Field. The 27-year-old has been one of the most impactful backstops in fantasy this season, hitting .278/.359/.472 with a career-high 13 home runs, 53 RBI and one steal in 288 plate appearances through 73 games before requiring a trip to the injured list with a lower back strain on June 20. His return should add some additional thunder to the heart of the Marlins order.

Tuesday is the first day that Hicks can be activated from the injured list for his lower back inflammation. On Saturday, the Marlins said he was participating in full baseball activities and had no issues with swinging. There have been no updates since then, but if Hicks didn’t suffer any setbacks, then he should be able to return to join the team in Colorado.

Hicks was sent for precautionary imaging that came back clean after hitting the injured list with a back strain over the weekend. The 27-year-old slugging backstop is likely to miss at least a couple weeks, but doesn’t appear to be facing an extended absence.

Miami made the decision to give Hicks some additional time off after he showed up to the ballpark on Sunday still experiencing back tightness. The 27-year-old has emerged as one of the most impactful catchers in fantasy this season, slashing .278/.359/.472 with a career-high 13 home runs, 53 RBI and one steal in 288 plate appearances through 73 games. Back issues can be complicated matters, but Hicks figures to return at some point in early July.

Hicks received some extra time to rest and recover due to a back issue. The 27-year-old catcher went 1-for-5 with an RBI during Friday’s series opener. He’s been one of the most impactful backstop’s in the fantasy landscape this season as a middle-of-the-order run-producer for Miami, delivering 53 RBI through 73 contests, which is tied for seventh in baseball.

Hicks scored on a Kyle Stowers single in the second inning, came around on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, and took an Antwone Kelly changeup off the right field foul pole in the eight inning for a two-run shot. After a .224/.325/.367 May raised concerns that April was a fluke, Hicks has raised his overall line from .268/.344/.468 on May 31 to .274/.355/.489 as we stand today.

Hernández gets a look atop Miami’s lineup after homering during Monday’s series opener. The 26-year-old has homered twice in his last seven games and has three round-trippers and five steals through 36 games this season. It’ll be interesting to see if the Marlins continue to give him opportunities near the top of the order. Liam Hicks, who has typically hit first or second recently, is batting sixth with Washington utilizing lefty opener Richard Lovelady ahead of veteran righty Miles Mikolas on Tuesday night.

Hicks extended Miami’s lead with a solo shot to right field off Nats reliever Cole Henry in the ninth inning. It was his 12th round-tripper of the season. The 26-year-old backstop reached base safely in two of his five plate appearances out of the leadoff spot and scored a pair of runs in this one. He’s had an outstanding season so far, slashing .268/.345/.479 with 29 runs scored, 12 homers, 46 RBI and one steal in 58 games.

Miami has moved Hicks around between several spots in their lineup, but he’s mostly hit second for the last month. The 26-year-old slugging backstop figures to continue hitting near the top of the order, which should drive enough volume to make him one of the more impactful catchers in the fantasy landscape. He’s off to a phenomenal start, slashing .268/.344/.468 with 27 runs scored, 11 homers, 45 RBI and one steal through 57 games this season.