ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Aaron Hicks has been taking grounders at first base, where the Yankees have a big problem. But don't expect to see him starting there anytime soon, they say.
Hicks' first foray into the infield has been with an 'emergency" in mind, infield instructor Joe Espada said before Friday's loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field.
That's even as the Yankees have gotten some of the worst production in the league out of the spot.
"He's athletic, and sometimes we get deep in games," Espada said. "It gives (manager Joe Girardi) some flexibility. (Girardi) asked me to hit him some groundballs in the infield, just in case."
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Hicks said his work at the position hasn't been "too serious." He's never played there professionally.
Still, it's interesting.
Entering Friday, Yankees first basemen -- mostly Greg Bird and Chris Carter -- have combined to hit .168 with three homers and 14 RBI. That would put them 27th in the league at -0.6 WAR, according to Fangraphs, ahead of only the Angels, Mariners and Rangers.
Bird, playing with a bruised right ankle, hit just .100 with a homer in 19 games before the Yankees put him on the disabled list May 2.
Carter has been bad, too. In 27 games before Friday, he had hit only .221 with two homers and 11 RBI. He also had struck out a whopping 33 times in 77 at-bats.
It's unclear when Bird will return. He did some light running for the first time since going on the DL on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Girardi has been looking to give Hicks more playing time in an outfield with established and well-performing starters Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner and surging rookie Aaron Judge. Hicks has forced the issue, hitting .311 with seven homers and a 1.036 OPS.
Espada said he thinks Hicks could succeed at first base if he had time to take regular reps there. In recent years, the Yankees have seen backup catcher Austin Romine and infielder Rob Refsnyder learn the position on the fly.
"If he learned it, yes, I think so," Espada said. "During the season, it's really hard to get him to learn it. But he'll take some groundballs on his off days and see what he can do. He does have some athleticism but it takes time to learn."
Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.