Minnesota Twins rookie outfielder Oswaldo Arcia had four hits Wednesday and two more Thursday, including a home run off John Lackey and now has a seven-game hitting streak. He's hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games and boasts a .313/.353/.547 line in 19 games, suggesting he may be showing he's more ready stick in the big leagues than Aaron Hicks.
Hicks is 13-for-98 on the season with 34 strikeouts, while Arcia has seven extra-base hits in 17 games and is making contact at a better rate, despite 18 whiffs of his own. Of course, Arcia is a corner outfielder and Hicks is solid glove in center, but one of them is likely to be shipped to Triple-A once Darin Mastroianni is ready to come off the disabled list.
Arcia's presence may also allow the Twins to use Josh Willingham at designated hitter more often, removing his subpar glove from the equation, yet keeping his power and patience in the lineup.
The 22-year-old Arcia is also hitting his way into the early-season AL Rookie of the Year discussion.