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How Sanchez the Slugger has Flipped the Script

Since Aaron Judge went on the Injured-List in May, Gary Sanchez has helped the Yankees remain ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the A.L. East.

Since Aaron Judge went on the Injured-List in May, Gary Sanchez has helped the Yankees remain ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the A.L. East.

Gary Sanchez has been mashing the baseball for the New York Yankees. The Yankees play-by-play announcer on WFAN radio, John Sterling has nominated Gary Sanchez as “The Sanchino” many a time. The Sanchino is hitting like Babe Ruth used to. The Sanchino has mashed over 20 home runs and has posted a healthy .980 OPS.

With the All-Star-break just around the corner, the 26-year-old is tied for the A.L. lead in home runs this season with 23 blasts. Sanchez looks confident at the plate this season and the results prove that he has improved his approach at the plate. The Sanchino has hit more home runs to the opposite field. This past Wednesday, Sanchez smashed a home run off the reigning A.L. Cy Young Award-Winner, Blake Snell.

Perennial all-stars Mike Trout and Bryce Harper received incredibly lucrative contracts during the off-season, while the Yankee catcher settled with the Yankees on a one-year deal worth 669,800 dollars– a meager sum for a player who could drive in over 100 runs by the end of this major-league season.

Sanchez was criticized heavily by Yankees fans for the way he played in 2018, when he was injured for most of the season.

23 home runs in 68 games? I’ll take it. That’s a homer every three games! Sanchez has played much better behind-the-plate as well. Here is why he is defending better.

Sanchez has caught 47 games for the Yankees in 2019, Sanchez has only four passed balls. Also, Sanchez has an impressive throwing arm and has thrown out five base-stealers from behind the dish. Furthermore, Gary Sanchez is on pace to hit at least 40 homers this year and earn less than a million dollars. Aaron Judge has the same contract situation as well. Mark my words, Gary Sanchez will demand a long-term, expensive contract this upcoming off-season. He is projected to have a whale of a season, so his price tag will most likely end up being very high.

As Gary goes, the Yankees go, look for the Yankees to lock him up long-term soon. In the coming years, the Yankees will have to address Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez contracts. For me, it is a no-brainer to keep these two in pinstripes. Whatever the price either player names, their names should be on Aaron Boone’s line-up card for years to come.

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Anthony has been a sportswriter at In The Zone since Sept. 2019. He graduated from Montclair State, where he was assistant Editor of the student newspaper's sports section. He also co-hosts a sports-themed radio show on the campus station, WMSC 90.3 FM, which was recently named #1 college radio station in the nation.
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