Explore More
BALTIMORE — Gary Sanchez’s life as a Yankees backup continued Wednesday, when he sat for a second straight game, as Kyle Higashioka is set to catch three out of four games, according to manager Aaron Boone.
Higashioka supplanted Sanchez as the starter Tuesday, homered in the Yankees’ win that night and was behind the plate again Wednesday. Sanchez will be back in the lineup Thursday — a day game at Camden Yards — with Higashioka set to catch Gerrit Cole in The Bronx on Friday and Sanchez “likely’’ in for Saturday’s day game.
“We’ll continue to see where it takes us,’’ Boone said. “I look at it as both are gonna play. I’ll just weigh it each time through.”
The decision is pretty simple these days. Higashioka entered Wednesday trailing just Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge with four homers on the year, and he has continued to win praise for his work defensively.
Sanchez, hoping to put a horrific 2020 season behind him, has instead picked up where he left off, unable to hit fastballs — or much of anything else.
“That’s the biggest thing as a hitter,’’ Boone said. “If you’re gonna be really successful … you have to do damage on the fastball.”
Sanchez hasn’t been on time on fastballs in either of the last two seasons, which caused the Yankees to bench him in the playoffs, consider getting rid of him during the offseason and now bench him again.
“I feel like it’s in there for him to unlock and have an impactful season for us,’’ Boone said.
Bullpen coach Mike Harkey said Wednesday there’s no questioning Sanchez’s work ethic.
“He’s very driven to get better at all facets of his game, defense and offense,’’ Harkey said. “He’s probably just as frustrated with himself offensively. This game is hard. What I’ve seen from Gary is an unwavering approach to getting after it and trying to get better.”
For now, though, they’ll ride Higashioka, who has six extra-base hits and helped Corey Kluber to his best start of the year on Tuesday.
Boone said left-hander Wandy Peralta, acquired from the Giants in a trade for Mike Tauchman on Tuesday, is expected to be available out of the bullpen on Thursday.
Harkey said he watched video of the 29-year-old Peralta and said he has “plus stuff.”
“He’s someone else that can pitch in high-leverage situations.”
Peralta has options and can be sent back and forth to the minors, so he’ll be able to be part of the shuttle of pitchers that head to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, since the Yankees will need plenty of arms to get through the season.
Once Peralta is activated, the Yankees will need to open a roster spot for him and Boone said the team was undecided whether a pitcher or position player would go down. Right-hander Michael King or infielder Tyler Wade could be optioned to the alternate site, if needed.
One player who doesn’t figure to go back down anytime soon is Jonathan Loaisiga, who has thrived this season.
Harkey said Loaisiga has “grown up before our eyes,” in part due to his willingness to throw his two-seam fastball to right-handers with more frequency. He also touched 100 mph in his outing on Tuesday, his fourth straight scoreless appearance.
Harkey is looking forward to getting reliever Zack Britton back — likely by early June — and is confident the lefty will be more effective than before the elbow surgery he underwent during spring training.
“I anticipate when he comes back, we’re gonna have a better version,’’ said Harkey, adding that the removal of bone chips, plus time to work on his arm will give Britton more flexibility.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3J7j21ma3BfnK6zxYysmKebmJrHtHnFmqOlZZanvK552JqlpJ2VqHqovsCcnGaho2LAqrnPpZxo