A confident Gary Sanchez took to Instagram on Saturday with a simple message to Yankee fans to ring in 2021.
“Happy New Year, everyone. Thank you to all that supported me. I will prove you right. #iamstillgary”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJi9-_MptiU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
There was some debate as to whether or not Sanchez would even be tendered a contract for the upcoming season following an abysmal year which saw him slash .147/.253/.365. Kyle Higashioka became Gerrit Cole’s exclusive catcher, and even got some playoff starts over Sanchez in games Cole wasn’t pitching.
But the Yankee did choose to bring the 28-year-old catcher back, and have him under team control through the 2022 season should they elect to offer him his final year of arbitration.
Sanchez is getting in work in the Dominican League this winter, and general manager Brian Cashman said last month that he would be the “heir apparent” for the starting role in 2021.
The Yankees have made it clear they’re betting on Sanchez to have a rebound season, and now it looks like he’s betting on himself, too.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].