BALTIMORE – According to manager Sanon Boon, with Kyle Higashoka set to hold three of four straight games, Gary Sanchez’s life as a Yankees backup continued on Wednesday, when he sat out for a second straight game.
Higashioka sacked Sánchez as a starter on Tuesday, who was involved in the Yankees’ win that night and was behind the plate again on Wednesday. Sanchez will return to the lineup on Thursday – a day game at Camden Yards – with Higashoka to catch Gerrit Cole at The Bronx on Friday and to set Sanchez “possibility” for Saturday’s day game.
“We’ll continue to see where this takes us,” Boone said. “I am watching it because both are going to play. I will weigh through it every time.
The decision is very easy these days. Higashioka entered the year with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge on Wednesday chasing four homers, and has continued to win accolades for his work defensively.
Sanchez, hoping for a terrible 2020 season behind him, has instead picked up where he left off, unable to hit the fastball – or anything else.
“It’s the biggest thing as a hitter,” Boone said. “If you are going to be really successful … then you have to take a loss on the fastball.”
Sanchez has not been on time in fastball the past two seasons, which led to the Yankees benching him in the playoffs, who consider getting rid of him during the offshin and now bench him again.
“I feel like he hopes to unlock and have an impressive season for us,” said Boan.
Bullpen coach Mike Harke said there is no question of Sanchez’s work policy.
“Motivated to improve all aspects of his game, defense and offense,” Harkie said. “He’s probably aggressively disappointed with himself. This game is tough. What I have seen from Gary is an unbreakable approach to trying to achieve and get better after that. “
For now, though, they’ll ride Higashoka, who has six extra-base hits and helped Corey Kluber get his best start of the year on Tuesday.
Boone said left tackle Wandy Peralta, acquired from the Giants in a trade for Mike Tochman on Tuesday, is expected to be available out of the bullpen on Thursday.
Harkie said he saw the video of 29-year-old Peralta and said he had “plus stuff”.
“He is someone else who can pitch in high-leverage situations.”
Peralta has options and can be sent back and forth to minors, so he will be able to be part of the pitcher’s shuttle, which heads to Scranton / Wilkes-Barre, as the Yankees need to get through the season with weapons. Will be needed a lot. .
Once Peralta was activated, the Yankees would need to open a roster spot for him, and Boone said the team did not know if the pitch or position player would go down. Right-handler Michael King or infielder Tyler Wade can be moved to an alternate site if needed.
One player who is not ready to return soon is Jonathan LoSiga, who has entered this season.
Harkie said that Loesiga grew up in front of his eyes because of his “desire to throw a two-seam fastball into a right-handed fastball with greater frequency.” He also touched speeds of 100 mph in his outing on Tuesday, his fourth straight scorched appearance.
Harkie is relieved to have Jack Breton back – by early June – and is sure Lefty will be more effective than he was before elbow surgery during spring training.
“I hope that when he comes back, we’ll have a better version, ‘” said Herkey, removing the bone chips, as well as working time on his arm, would give Britton more flexibility.
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