ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The week began with Gary Sanchez showing signs of life in his long-dormant bat.
It concluded with him likely headed to the disabled list.
Sanchez injured his right groin Sunday, during the Yankees’ 7-6, 12-inning loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field, so as his teammates departed for the next series in Philadelphia, he stayed put in the Tampa area — where the Yankees hold spring training and have strong medical connections — to undergo an MRI exam Monday.
The Yankees hope to have a better feel then for how long they’ll be without the 25-year-old, but manager Aaron Boone said Sanchez would “probably” head to the 10-day disabled list. Boone described the problem’s location as the “groin, hip abductor.”
“What can I say? That’s how baseball is sometimes,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “You never want something bad to happen to you, but it’s part of baseball. Now I’m just hoping it’s not a long time. I’ve got to keep my head up and come back as soon as possible.”
Austin Romine, who has thrived offensively this season in addition to his typically stellar defensive work, will take over the everyday job. Kyle Higashioka, the top catcher at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, will likely be recalled to back up Romine.
Sanchez suffered the injury in the top of the 10th inning, when he followed Giancarlo Stanton’s single by hitting a grounder to Rays shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. He tried and failed to beat out the 6-4-3 double play, and he wound up slumped over in pain.
“It was almost getting to the bag, stretching to try to beat the play and get to the bag,” said Sanchez, who has a .190/.291/.433 slash line on the season. “That was the first time I felt it. Then, when I landed, I felt it after.”
Romine replaced Sanchez for the bottom of the 10th and played the rest of the way. He has a .305/.370/.524 line and played very well for a month last year when Sanchez strained his right biceps.
“You never want to see your starter go down, especially the caliber of player Gary is,” Romine said. “He’s an All-Star. … I’ve got to fill in the best I can, and I’m looking forward to playing.”
