The New York Yankees are a long shot to make the 2016 MLB playoffs. Nevertheless, if the Yankees do not make the playoffs it will have nothing to do with how rookie Gary Sanchez is playing.
Sanchez this week became the first rookie ever to win the Player of the Week award two consecutive times. On Monday, Sanchez was named the American League Player of the Week. It was the second straight week the Yankees catcher was given the award.
He is the first rookie in the history of Major League Baseball to win two straight player of the week awards. He is the first ever AL player to win two straight awards since July of 1998 when the White Sox’ Albert Belle won the award twice in a row.
Sanchez started his week on Monday of last week with two home runs in one game versus the Seattle Mariners.
Joe Girardi the Yankees manager has put so much value in the bat of the rookie, he is using him as the designated hitter for the team when Brian McCann the veteran catcher is working the plate.
On Sunday, while the DH in a loss of 5-0 to Baltimore, Sanchez has 2 hits in 4 at bats including hitting his eighth double in August.
At the trade deadline, it appeared the Yankees decided to sell players looking to add young talent for the future, as they seemed to be too far back in the standings to reach the postseason.
When the Yankees called Sanchez up from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre their Triple-A affiliate, the Bronx Bombers were just 53-53.
As of Tuesday, the Yankees are 67-63 seven and a half games behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. They are also just 3 ½ games, behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second and final wildcard spot in the AL.
The Yankees might have a problem leapfrogging teams to reach the postseason, but it will not be for the lack of production from Sanchez who appears to have locked in a place in the batting order for the Yankees for years to come.
