Sanchez had faith in Judge
Power-hitting catcher knew his teammate would regain his home run stroke
Gary Sanchez watched Aaron Judge go through his slump last month and while others worried about his fly ball rate and launch angle, the Yankees’ catcher was confident that Judge would be just fine.
“He went through that period of time where he didn’t hit homers at all for a little bit. A lot of people were talking about it and asking why he’s not hitting homers. I can tell you that I wasn’t worried at all. I know what kind of talent he has, I know what he can do on the field,” Sanchez said through Yankees translator Marlon Abreu. “Right now he’s hot. Thirty is not out of reach for him right now.
“He’s getting hot at the right time. I just hope everything keeps going and that the production continues,” Sanchez said. “There’s no shock. I know what kind of talent he has.”
Sanchez believed in Judge because he had been through the same thing before. After a year-long slump in 2018, Sanchez is leading all catchers in the majors with 30 home runs this season. That gives him two seasons with 30 homers in the big leagues.
Sanchez knew Judge too would turn a corner eventually.
Judge began his turnaround at the end of the last homestand, but really returned to himself on the nine-game road trip against the A’s, Dodgers, and Mariners. He hit .359 with six homers and nine RBIS on the trip.
In the 28 previous games he hit .222 with a .333 slugging percentage. He had one home run and just eight RBIS in that span.
Judge had missed 54 games this season with strained oblique muscle.
The Yankees were winning without Judge at his best, something they’ve done this year no matter which big slugger is down.
Sanchez has been on the injured list twice. Giancarlo Stanton has played just nine games. Edwin Encarnacion is still on the IL with a fractured wrist, but Luke Voit is hoping to return Friday when the Yankees open a series with the A’s in the Bronx after missing a month on his second IL stint for a sports hernia.
On the road trip, the Yankees hit 23 homers on the trip and have a major league record 70 in 27 games. Sanchez and Judge have each passed 100 homers for their career.
“It’s fun to watch him play and to see him to get to 100 as well. I hit my 100th not too long ago. Seeing him get that, it’s fun,” Sanchez said of Judge. “All the guys here, we have a really good clubhouse here and we have a lot of fun with each other. It’s a fun clubhouse to be part of.”