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Yankees: Gary Sanchez leaving game with hand injury latest blow to NYY

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

It. Never. Ends.

The New York Yankees are down 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday and once again the bats can’t come through. Jordan Montgomery has largely pitched well, but two home runs have turned the afternoon around.

Why not add another untimely injury to the mix?

Gary Sanchez had to leave the game in fourth inning after taking a foul tip off his right hand. Kyle Higashioka is now in the game.

This should add to Yankees’ fans anger. Sanchez, though he’s cooled off a bit, still has been one of the most productive players on the team, and his defense has looked better.

It’s unclear if he’ll have to go on the injured list, but the fact he promptly left the game wasn’t a good sign.

Ouch. That certainly didn’t look good. Sanchez had been taking a beating back there on Saturday too, after having a couple balls get fouled off his facemask.

If he were to go on the IL, the next man up from the alternate site is spring training favorite Rob Brantly, who slugged a few dingers in the month of March, because Robinson Chirinos is still recovering from wrist surgery.

Sanchez was slashing .237/.356/.421 and was one of the few Yankees getting on base consistently. Though Higgy has been excellent in his appearances this year, it’s brutal for Sanchez to potentially go down this early while he’s getting into a rhythm at the plate and trying to dispel all the criticisms from the last two seasons.

The Yankees have four regulars batting below .200. Aside from Judge, Sanchez had the next highest slugging percentage on the team among the starters.

“It’s only April” can only last so long. In fact, April is over in less than two weeks. Now that the Bombers could be down a key contributor in Sanchez, someone is going to have to step up. And we’re still waiting to see who it’ll be.

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