Gary Sanchez, Catcher, San Diego Padres

Date of Birth: 12/2/1992
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Gary Sanchez, catcher for the San Diego Padres, was signed by the New York Yankees in 2009. He played in their minor league system from 2010 through 2015, joining the Yankees for just two games in 2015.

Sanchez made MLB history in his first 21 games with the Yankees in 2016. On August 27th he became the first player to have 11 home runs in his first 23 games in the major leagues. He finished the season with 60 hits, 12 doubles, 20 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .299 batting average in 53 games with the Yankees.

Sanchez had a good full season with the Yankees in 2017. He finished the season with 131 hits, 20 doubles, 33 home runs, 90 RBIs, 120 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a .278 batting average in 122 games. Defensively, as the Yankees' catcher in 104 games, he made 60 assists, 935 putouts, and 13 errors. He caught players trying to steal 38.3% of the time.

In the 2017 postseason, Sanchez had 11 hits, including 3 home runs, and 8 RBIs in 53 at-bats in 13 games. His first postseason home run came in the first inning of Game 2 of the American League Division series. He followed that with another home run in Game 4. He gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead in Game 4 of the AL Championship series with a two-run hit. He hit his last home run in Game 5 of the ALCS.

Sanchez spent time on the DL in 2018 with a right groin strain. He played in 89 games with the Yankees and he batted just .186 with 60 hits, 17 doubles, 18 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 94 strikeouts to 46 walks. As the Yankees' catcher in 76 games, he made 35 assists, 731 putouts, and 6 errors. He caught players trying to steal 30% of the time and he had a .992 fielding percentage. He struggled also offensively in the postseason, batting just .167 in 18 at-bats in 5 games. He had just 3 hits (1 double and 2 home runs) and 5 RBIs.

Sanchez was back on the DL in 2019, this time with a left calf strain and later in the season with a left groin strain. He finished the season with 92 hits, 34 home runs, 77 RBIs, 125 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a .232 batting average in 106 games. Defensively, as the Yankees' catcher in 90 games, he made 793 putouts and 15 errors, and he caught players trying to steal 23.4% of the time. In the postseason, he batted .129 with 4 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, and 16 strikeouts to 4 walks in 31 at-bats in 9 games.

Sanchez played in 49 games in 2020. He finished the season with 23 hits, 4 doubles, 10 home runs, 24 RBIs, 64 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a .147 batting average. Defensively, he was the Yankees' catcher in 41 games. In the postseason, he had just 1 hit in 8 at-bats in 3 games.

Sanchez finished the 2021 season with 78 hits, 23 home runs, 54 RBIs, 121 strikeouts to 52 walks, and a .204 batting average in 117 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 110 games, he made 54 assists, 932 putouts, and 1 error. He caught players trying to steal 17% of the time. In the postseason, he had no hits in 1 at-bat in 1 game.

Sanchez was traded to the Minnesota Twins on March 13, 2022.

Sanchez became a free agent on November 6, 2022. He signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on April 1, 2023, and he was released on May 2nd. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on May 9th, and designated for assignment on May 25th. Four days later, he was claimed off waivers by the Padres.

Career batting statistics for Sanchez through 2021 include:

• 538 games played
• 444 hits
• 138 home runs
• 340 RBIs
• 582 strikeouts to 220 walks
• .230 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Sanchez as a catcher through 2021 include:

• 457 games played
• 229 assists
• 4,042 putouts
• 29% caught stealing percentage
• .989 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Gary Sanchez
Baseball Reference - Gary Sanchez