Yankees News: Aaron Hicks to Make Season Debut vs. Orioles After Back Injury

The New York Yankees are slowly getting back to full strength with Aaron Hicks set to make his season debut Wednesday night. 

Per The Athletic's Lindsey Adler, Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Hicks will start the second game of their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hicks has been sidelined since March 1 when he was dealing with stiffness in his lower back. Boone told reporters on March 17 his center fielder would open the season on the injury list, but the manager was hopeful it would only be a short-term issue. 

The Yankees activated Hicks off the IL Monday and had him hitting leadoff, but inclement weather delayed his season debut. 

Injuries have been a defining storyline for the Yankees this season. Hicks, Didi Gregorius, Luis Severino and Dellin Betances have yet to appear in a game. Giancarlo Stanton has only played three contests due to shoulder and biceps injuries. Aaron Judge has been out since April 20 with a strained oblique.

Hicks is coming off his best season. The 29-year-old set career highs in games played (137), home runs (27) and RBI (79). New York rewarded him with a seven-year, $70 million extension in February.

Despite their rash of injuries, the Yankees enter Wednesday one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League East.