TAMPA \u2014 When the exhibition season opened last year, Gary Sanchez was considered by many to be the Yankees\u2019 most complete hitter, even in a lineup that housed Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He had power, but wasn\u2019t a one-trick home-run hitter.<\/p>\n
Then 2018 happened, and the 26-year-old Sanchez is no longer in that conversation. Putting aside his miserable year behind the plate \u2014 he led the majors with 18 passed balls and had trouble blocking balls, which led to 45 wild pitches (fifth-most in the majors) when he was the catcher \u2014 his bat was worse in a lot of ways.<\/p>\n
After hitting .299 with 20 homers and 42 RBIs in 53 games in 2016, when he finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year race, and .278 with 33 homers and 90 RBIs the following season in making his first All-Star team, big things were expected of Sanchez entering 2018.<\/p>\n
Instead, he batted .186 with 18 homers and 53 RBIs and was limited to 89 games due to two trips to the disabled list with right groin problems.<\/p>\n
The postseason wasn\u2019t much better. Sanchez batted .167 (3-for-18), but he did hit two homers and drive in five runs in five games.<\/p>\n Following the nightmare year, Sanchez had surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder on Nov. 8.<\/p>\n Still, the Yankees made no move to replace Sanchez as the No. 1 catcher, though J.T. Realmuto was made available by the Marlins, who eventually dealt the best all-around catcher in the game to the Phillies.<\/p>\n General manager Brian Cashman is a staunch Sanchez supporter, and when they passed each other in the clubhouse before Friday night\u2019s game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Cashman offered a fist bump and said, \u201cTime to release the Kraken.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Sanchez started his first game behind the plate, caught four innings (he worked with James Paxton), and went 0-for-2 in a 2-2 exhibition tie with the Orioles.<\/p>\n Was Sanchez\u2019s shoulder a reason for his dive at the plate and the problems behind it?<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it was something that was probably nagging him at different times,\u2019\u2019 Aaron Boone said before the game. \u201cBut I also felt like he was fine to impact the ball. I don\u2019t necessarily feel like it was holding him back.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n The fact Sanchez had surgery meant the problem more than likely had an effect.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure he grinded through some issues with it, though, and obviously in [looking] back and having [the shoulder] cleaned up, I\u2019m sure it was something that at least subtly affected him to some degree,\u2019\u2019 Boone said.<\/p>\n Sanchez said he isn\u2019t experiencing any problems with his groin or shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt good, felt healthy,\u2019\u2019 Sanchez said through a translator. \u201cThat\u2019s the most important thing. The groin is good, no issues. Every day feeling better and better.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n Sanchez was part of the group of position players who arrived early in Tampa and worked out at the Yankees\u2019 minor league complex. After being brought along slowly at the beginning of camp, Sanchez was deemed ready for game action.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s good to go. We took our time this first week with him, but he was good to go from the start,\u2019\u2019 Boone said.<\/p>\n When the season opens on March 28 against the hapless Orioles at Yankee Stadium, Sanchez needs to be good to go if the Yankees want their best lineup on the field. Austin Romine is considered an above-average catcher who provides quality at-bats. Nevertheless, in his two-month stint in 2016 and all of 2017, Sanchez quickly morphed into the best hitting catcher in the American League.<\/p>\n![\"Gary](\"https:\/\/thenypost.files.wordpress.com\/2019\/03\/gary-sanchez-2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&strip=all\")
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