Gary Sanchez is first. The injury-riddled Yankees can only hope Didi Gregorius, Aroldis Chapman and Aaron Judge follow him.
Barring a setback, Sanchez will return to The Bronx on Friday and be activated the following day, manager Aaron Boone said before Thursday night’s series-opening game against the Tigers at the Stadium.
The power-hitting catcher, out since July 24 with a strained groin, was scheduled to catch nine innings Thursday night for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It would mark the first time in his rehab he has caught nine innings on consecutive days. He has homered twice in four rehab games with Scranton, going 3-for-15 at the plate.
“I think he’s just physically in a really good place right now,” Boone said. “He’s responded well to all these games. … So far, so good. He’s bounced back. He’s moving really well, his conditioning is really good.
“The catching reports have been good, the work he’s put in behind the scenes we’re really happy with. Assuming all goes well [Thursday night], I can’t wait to get him back.”
Meanwhile, Gregorius (bruised left heel) could follow Sanchez back to active duty. He did some running on Wednesday and also fielded grounders and took batting practice before having a light day of work on Thursday. Boone described his status as “day-to-day” and said the shortstop could possibly be back on Monday. Judge (chip fracture in right wrist) and Chapman (left knee tendinitis) remain a ways off.
Sanchez reinjured the groin July 23, in just his third game back after it had cost him the previous 20 games. He infamously didn’t run hard on a game-ending double play against the Rays with the tying run on third base. He also didn’t hustle after a passed ball, enabling a run to score earlier in the game. The next day, he was placed on the disabled list, though Sanchez said the groin was no excuse for him not to hustle.
The 25-year-old catcher wasn’t having a strong year before the groin problems, posting an anemic .188/.283/.416 slash line with a .699 OPS, 14 home runs and 42 RBIs in 66 games. However, when Sanchez is back, he will be the full-time catcher, Boone has said, replacing Austin Romine, who has performed well in his place, slashing .255/.311/.435 with a .746 OPS.
Despite his uncharacteristically woeful numbers, Sanchez would add a feared presence to a lineup that is without key components Judge and Gregorius. He will be welcomed back.
“I feel like when he’s right and healthy, you can kind of lean on him,” Boone said. “Look, we’re missing a few premium impactful players and I would count Gary as one of them. Anytime you can add him back to your lineup, a healthy version, yeah, I think that’s potentially really impactful.
“If he comes back and is playing and swinging the bat the way he’s capable of, that’s a legitimate middle-of-the-order monster that you’re adding to the fold. [He’s someone] that not only can you plug in there, and his impact [helps you], but also slot in some other people [after him], and add more length to your lineup. We’re really excited at what he might bring to us.”
