The Yankees activated catcher Gary Sanchez off the disabled list and optioned Kyle Higashioka to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night. Sanchez had been on the 10-day DL since June 25 due to a strained right groin, but could be back in the starting lineup for New York's game against the Mets at Yankee Stadium on Friday night to open the season's second half.
Sanchez, 25, has struggled so far this season, slashing .190/.291/.433 with 14 home runs in 63 games. From 2016-17, he hit .284/.354/.568 with 53 homers in 175 games. He finished runner-up in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting in '16, and was an All-Star for the first time last year.
In three rehab games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Sanchez went 2-for-12 (.167), though the two hits were home runs.