Sanchez throws, set to begin rehab assignment

Gary Sanchez took what the Yankees hope is the final step Saturday before the catcher begins a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday night.

Sanchez started taking batting practice on the field in Boston on Thursday night. Saturday morning, Sanchez threw to bases for the first time since going on the disabled list April 9 with a right biceps problem.

Working with first-base coach and catching instructor Tony Pena and being watched by manager Joe Girardi and Austin Romine, Sanchez made several throws to second and third. And though Sanchez didn’t appear to cut all the way loose with any of the throws, it was satisfactory.

“Everything so far has been good,’’ Girardi said of Sanchez’s rehab program.

Sanchez recently said he would have a better idea of how many minor league games he would need to play in after he participated in the first one.

Aaron Judge has 10 homers this season and they all came in the last 16 games. He is one of three players in Yankee history with at least 10 homers in March/April. Alex Rodriguez hit 14 in 2007 and Graig Nettles had 11 in 1974.

Judge is the second Yankee 25 or younger to hit at least 10 homers in the teams’ first 22 games. Mickey Mantle hit 11 in 1956.

The 12 runs scored Satur- day pushed the Yankees’ total to 124, which was the best in the AL going into Saturday night’s action, and they led the majors with a plus-46 run differential.

Didi Gregorius went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his first game of the season Friday night and followed that with another 2-for-4, oneRBI game Saturday when the Yankees crushed the Orioles.

“I am not surprised,’’ Girardi said of Gregorius’ solid start after missing the first 20 games with a right shoul- der injury suffered in March during the World Baseball Classic. “He swung the bat extremely well during the WBC. For him it was just getting healthy.’’

Aroldis Chapman was struck in the palm of his left hand by a Mark Trumbo grounder in the 10th inning of Friday night’s 14-11 Yankees win, but Girardi didn’t believe there was a problem with his closer’s throwing hand.

“He said he was OK,’’ Girardi said of Chapman, who caught Chris Davis looking to end the game.