New York Yankees To Promote Top Prospect Gary Sanchez

Ahead of a tough weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees are set to promote top prospect Gary Sanchez, according to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders beat writer Shane Hennigan.

Gary Sanchez has been promoted to the New York.

— Shane Hennigan (@ShaneHennigan15) May 13, 2016

Hennigan notes that it’s likely one of the Yankees’ relievers in the bullpen is demoted to make room for Sanchez. Lefty Scott Olsen and righty Nick Goody are two possible candidates to be sent down.

Sanchez, 23, currently ranks as the Yankees’ third-best prospect, according to MLB.com. Speedy shortstop Jorge Mateo (Advanced A-Ball) and slugging outfielder Aaron Judge (Triple-A) are the two players ahead of Sanchez.

Entering the 2016 campaign, Baseball America’s top 100 list ranked the right-handed swinging catcher as the 36th best prospect in the minors, MLB.com rated him as the 55th best prospect, and ESPN’s Keith Law (Insider Link) rated him at 57th best.

MLB.com’s scouting report touts Sanchez’s raw power but still has concerns about his defensive capabilities behind the plate.

“Sanchez still can get overly aggressive at the plate, which hampers his ability to hit for average, and his receiving and blocking still need more polish. But he did show improvement in those facets of his game and played with more passion in 2015. If Sanchez stays behind the plate and realizes his power potential, he can be an All-Star.”

The Yankees signed Sanchez as an international free agent on June 20, 2009. Since making his professional debut in 2010, Sanchez has consistently ranked as one of the Yankees’ top prospects. However, a subpar 2013 campaign in minors — batting a combined 0.253 with 15 home runs and 71 runs batted in (RBI) between Advanced A-Ball and Double-A — stalled Sanchez’s progress.

Instead of moving up to Triple-A the following year, the Yankees kept Sanchez at the Double-A level for the entire 2014 season. He improved his batting average (0.270) while swatting 13 HR and driving in 65 runs.

Last season, Sanchez re-emerged as one of baseball’s top prospects. In 93 total game split between Double-A and Triple-A, Sanchez hit 0.274 with 18 HR and 62 RBI. He was chosen to represent the Yankees at the 2015 All-Star Future’s game. When the Railriders’ season concluded, the Yankees called up Sanchez to the big league roster in mid-September.

Sanchez made his MLB debut as a pinch-hitter on October 3, 2015. He went 0-2 with a strikeout in his only two plate appearances. There were rumblings that Sanchez may be brought up with the big league team out of Spring Training this year. However, the Yankees decided it’d be best for the Dominican-born backstop to get regular time in the minors.

“To me, I’m just focusing on my job. I’ve got to keep working hard every day, call a good game and whatever decision is up to them,” Sanchez told NJ.com in Spring Training.

Also, by keeping Sanchez in the minors to begin the season, they have delayed his free agency.

With the White Sox visiting the Bronx this weekend, Sanchez’s right-handed bat is a major plus. The Yankees will face dominant lefties Chris Sale (7-0, 1.79 ERA) and Jose Quintana (5-1, 1.38 ERA) during the three-game set. Per ESPN, the Yankees are hitting 0.245 against southpaws this year.

Also, one of the Yankees’ top right-handed batters, Alex Rodriguez, is currently on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. However, as Mike Axisa of RiverAveBlues mentions, Sanchez’s stay be just for the weekend to help against the tough lefties. The Yankees’ incumbent catcher, Brian McCann, and the backup, Austin Romine, have both hit well this year.

Therefore, Sanchez does not have a clear spot on the roster following this weekend’s series, especially with the team traveling to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks for an interleague series.

[Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images]