Gary Sanchez Will Bounce Back
Once upon a time, Gary Sanchez seemed destined to become the best catcher in all of Major League Baseball. In his rookie season, the New York Yankee was runner up for Rookie of the Year. The next season he was the best offensive catcher in the majors, winning the Silver Slugger award.
Sanchez only played 53 games in his 2016 rookie season, shocking the entire baseball world when he hit 20 home runs. The season after that he led all catchers in home runs with 33, RBI’s with 90, and slugging with .531. Then the bottom fell out.
He has not lived up to what the Yankees thought he could become, the next Jorge Posada. Even though it is easy to turn your head on him, it may not be wise to do so this year.
With spring training beginning, we’re seeing Sanchez for the first time since his 2020 disaster season. He is in a lot better shape, which could explain why in his first four games he’s already crushed two home runs. Even though it is just early in the spring, those home runs are really good signs. Not just because they were tremendous blasts, but because they were both off fastballs, a pitch Sanchez couldn’t hit for his life in last year’s COVID-19 shortened season.
Behind the plate, Sanchez has struggled just as terribly. Last year he led the American League in passed balls, a stat he’s led in multiple times. His troubles defensively are attributed to his stance. Instead of a normal athletic squat, he tends to sit with his leg straight out, almost like he’s lying down. So far in spring training, it looks like he has fixed this problem.
Last postseason was the lowest point of Sanchez’s career. It looked like he had never played baseball before, striking out almost every at-bat. He allowed countless passed balls, costing runs. It got to a point so bad that Manager Aaron Boone had to start back-up catcher Kyle Higashioka over him.
Boone starting backup catcher Higashioka in the most important games of the season last year was an embarrassment for Sanchez. He started working on his game at, and behind the plate as soon as the Yankees season ended. He is determined to prove why he is the Yankees starting catcher. He wants to prove to everybody that he is a top 10 catcher in baseball, with his mind set at the number one spot.
Sanchez can be that player everyone once thought he could be.
He may have struggled the past few seasons, but returning to his rookie form seems very possible. This guy was the second fastest player ever to reach 100 home runs, he obviously has talent. He has the will, and the skills.
