When the Yankees informed Gary Sánchez that he would be sitting on the bench in late 2020 and that Kyle Higashioka would be behind the plate in his place, the Dominican catcher pointed out that the only way he would get out of the attacking slump would be the one who hit rocking was.
When the postseason ended, that’s exactly what Sanchez did, in Florida hitting coaches Marcus Thames and PJ Pilittere, and also in winter baseball in the Dominican Republic with the Toros del Este. As a result, Sánchez made some mechanical adjustments that he thinks will restore his old swing.
“I’m trying to stay a little bit more on the right leg in the back and let the pitching come to me a little bit more and try to get a good swing,” Sanchez said of the adjustments. “They were simple things that could help me.”
The homeruns that Sánchez hit in hitting practice this spring are an indication that Sanchez is applying those suggestions well.
“I think it looks great,” said manager Aaron Boone. “I feel like he’s following a good routine now that he’s implementing himself fairly. He’s made some adjustments when it comes to offense, shortening his swing. I would say he is doing quite well in these first days ”.
Sánchez downplayed recently made comments by Hall of Fame wide receiver Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, who said in a January interview with WFAN radio station that Sánchez “doesn’t like baseball at the moment.”
“Everyone has their opinion,” said Sanchez, noting that he was always hanging out with his teammates. “Everyone sees his position differently from another.”
Sanchez has also teamed up with catching coach Tanner Swanson, receiving knee raises to do better justice.
“I feel good,” said Sanchez. “Progress has been very good. I am focused on getting better with my right knee down every day and also improving with my left down. I am working on many things that can help me this year ”.