It may still be February, but Gary Sanchez is already tearing the cover off the ball

When Gary Sánchez steps to the plate, baseballs cower in fear -- as they should. He's smashed 53 homers over the last two years, leading all Major League catchers despite playing in far fewer games while crushing the ball as far as anyone. You know, like this one that went 493 feet -- second-longest in the Majors last year: 

Well, even though it's only February and Spring Training games have yet to begin, Sanchez's strength is in midseason form. Stepping into the box for batting practice on Sunday, Sanchez went and smashed the cover off the ball. Sure, it's not a "The Natural"-style home run that breaks the lights, but, well, physics and all that. 

.@ElGarySanchez literally ripped the cover off the ball during BP 😱 pic.twitter.com/JOH0UXBTWa

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) February 18, 2018

Fortunately, the Yankees brought more than one baseball to practice, otherwise everyone would have been seriously peeved.