KANSAS CITY -- The Yankees' offense has been showing encouraging power and Gary Sanchez may be ready to give it an added boost.
Sanchez, who has been playing catch-up after missing a month because of a right biceps strain, got the Yanks off and running in bigtime fashion on Tuesday night with a three-run homer off Jason Hammel to dead center field, igniting a 7-1 victory over the Royals.
The homer traveled an estimated 428 feet with an exit velocity of 108 miles per hour, according to Statcast™.
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"It felt really good," " Sanchez said through a translator. "Hopefully, I can keep making good contact."
Sanchez, who burst onto the Major League scene last year, has hit all three of his homers on the road this season. In going 2-for-4 against the Royals, he lifted his batting average to .278.
"I have been working hard with my coaches," Sanchez said. "If I keep doing that, good things will come."
Sanchez also made a big contribution behind the plate, guiding Carsten Sabathia through 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball.
"Every game, we get together and go over the plan," Sanchez said. "CC and I were on the same page. All of his pitches were working nice. The cutter, everything."
Sabathia knows that Sanchez has high value as a receiver as well as a hitter.
"Gary has been great to work with," Sabathia said. "I don't have to shake him off at all and that's very comforting."