Through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, Gary Sanchez has been one of the most polarizing Yankees among the fanbase over the last five seasons.
From a historic rookie season followed by an All-Star appearance in 2017 to prolonged slumps in 2018 and 2020, Sanchez has been searching for the consistency he enjoyed in his first two big league seasons, while the Bronx crowds have rarely hid their frustration in Sanchez’s struggles to replicate his superstar-like numbers from early in his career.
But Sanchez is starting to look like that hitter once again, and the boos have turned to cheers, especially on Wednesday night when he ripped a line drive home run to left to tie the game in the ninth inning and set up a walk-off win for the Yanks.
“It feels great to hear the fans show their support,” Sanchez said through his interpreter. “It definitely feels really good to hear that from them. That’s the kind of fans we have.”
Sanchez has heard plenty of criticism from the home crowd over the years, who have often found his defensive struggles and prolonged slumps at the plate to be unforgivable. Those frustrations were paramount in 2020, when his offensive woes led to decreased playing time in the postseason and questions about his future in pinstripes. But over his last 22 games, Sanchez has come alive, batting .333 and slugging .725 with seven home runs, helping carry a Yankee offense that is still looking to break out in the way it feels it is capable of.
In recent weeks, fans are getting a look and a reminder of what Sanchez is capable of.
“I gotta say, I wish sometimes when I’m struggling I hear the same kind of support from them, but they’re New York fans, and they’re tough,” Sanchez said. “But it’s much appreciated.”
It’s also been appreciated by the Yankees, who needed a boost after Aroldis Chapman blew another save on Wednesday night, and Sanchez delivered, coming through in the clutch once again after blasting a pinch-hit, go-ahead home run last week against Toronto.
“I keep going back to the at-bats,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Even tonight…he’s so much in on every pitch. He smoked one there to tie it up. Just proud of how hard he’s worked to get to this point to be the threat he is.”
Sanchez is looking like the threat he was in 2016, 2017 and much of 2019, stepping to the plate with home run potential in every at-bat. Perhaps it was that capability that made his struggles particularly infuriating to fans, but they’re all getting a reminder of who Sanchez can be when he’s at his best.
“The guy is locked in right now,” Luke Voit said. “We’re finally seeing what the Kraken is when he’s unleashed. He’s been positive, and things are finally starting to click with his swing.”
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