Jul 20, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) celebrates his home run with teammates during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
(New York, NY) — Gary Sanchez is off to a good start with his new New York franchise.
The former Yankee went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first game with the Syracuse Mets on Wednesday after signing a minor league contract earlier this week.
Sanchez, who played six seasons with the Yankees, was recently cut from the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A club after batting just .164 across 13 games, with no home runs, and eight runs driven in. The catcher/DH struck out 19 times in 55 at bats.
Originally heralded for his slugging prowess, Sanchez ultimately struggled to overcome his defensive shortcomings, and his performance with the bat slipped as well.
“We know the background of Gary and what he’s capable of doing,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He is getting an opportunity in Syracuse with our guys and we’ll see where it takes us.
“He’s got power and a big arm. It’s been a long time since I have seen him and we’ll see.”
After being traded to the Minnesota Twins prior to last season, Sanchez batted .205/.282/.377 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI in 128 games played. He became a free agent at the end of last year.
For the Mets, Sanchez likely represents depth at the minor league level. The major league club has top-ranked rookie prospect Francisco Alvarez at catcher, with the injured Omar Narváez expected back sometime this summer.
