The Dominican receiver comes from a difficult 2020 season where the decision to send him to the bank in the postseason generated several reactions
A few seasons ago it was easy to answer the question titled this note. Gary Sanchez is a receiver who still has a great career ahead of him and was shaping up to be the big star of the New York Yankees.
But something changed this perception in the turbulent 2020. The Dominican receiver went from being one of the most feared bats of a powerful lineup that includes Aaron Judge i Giancarlo Stanton, Just hitting .147 / .253 / .365 in 49 games last regular season.
Things got worse in the postseason when in just 3 games he had 8 innings at bat and only connected quadrangular in the second game in the series against the Cleveland Indians.
It ended a season of oblivion. He tried to fix things up a bit by playing winter baseball with the Eastern Bulls and in 15 games he batted for 245 with 13 hits in 53 batting innings, four doubles and two home runs with 10 RBIs.
Gary Sánchez in his first round back at LIDOM 🦑🔥
⠀#LIDOMxESPN pic.twitter.com/6WNCEM98oJ– ESPN.com.do🇩🇴 (@ESPN_DO) December 4, 2020
But after that followed the doubt, one that not even Gary could answer. The Dominican “didn’t know why he wasn’t playing.”
He expressed in an interview with ESPN’s Marly Rivera, It was a very tough time for him, when he was sent to the bench in the postseason, although to this day he feels fit to be the everyday receiver with the Bronx Mules .
The Dominican has to work so that, despite never knowing what happened, the team will trust him again and be able to win the place, without having any doubts about what might happen.
He has the talent, he has the bat and it wouldn’t be the first time a catcher has made up for a lack of offense, with a very good defense behind the plate and that’s what needs to improve.
Gerrit Cole in his career has had an effectiveness of 2.46 in his career with Robinson Chirinos, Who just reached an agreement with the Yankees. He is invited to spring training and the contract is for minor league.
But it can’t be overlooked, that if the Yankees see something they don’t like about Sanchez, at any moment, another receiver, maybe Chirinos, can take his place. They didn’t shake their pulse to make the Dominican sit in the postseason. It will not shake them to do so in 2021.