\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**2) He's hitting it harder, overall**\n\nSanchez has always had an elite hard-hit tool, obviously. Between 2016 and '18, the Major League average for hard-hit rate was 34.4 percent, and Sanchez was at 43.7 percent. He's [one of just four players to hit a ball at least 118 mph twice or more](https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfBBT=&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfGT=R%7C&hfC=&hfSea=2019%7C2018%7C2017%7C2016%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfPull=&metric_1=h_launch_speed&metric_1_gt=118&metric_1_lt=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&group_by=name&sort_col=pitches&player_event_sort=h_launch_speed&sort_order=desc&min_pas=0&chk_bip=on#results) since 2016. He's always been able to crush baseballs.\n\nThis year, it's been even better. Sanchez has upped his hard-hit rate from 41.6 percent to 54.9 percent. Considering how valuable a hard-hit ball is -- the Majors hit .525 on hard-hit balls last year, and just .210 when not getting up to that 95 mph of exit velocity -- this tells you a lot of the story right here. There are 223 players who had 100 batted balls in 2018 and 50 this year, and Sanchez's +13.3 percent increase in hard-hit rate is the ninth highest in baseball.\n\nThis also goes back to the change in ground balls, by the way. Remember: Sanchez is not good at hitting it hard on the ground. He's very good at hitting it hard in the air. Last year, 32 percent of his grounders were hard-hit, and that's down to 27 percent this year. (That's worse.) Last year, 60.8 percent of his flies and liners were hard-hit, and that's up to 75.8 percent this year, [the best in baseball](https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfBBT=fly%5C.%5C.ball%7Cline%5C.%5C.drive%7C&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfGT=R%7C&hfC=&hfSea=2019%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfPull=&metric_1=h_launch_speed&metric_1_gt=95&metric_1_lt=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=10&group_by=name-year&sort_col=pitch_percent&player_event_sort=h_launch_speed&sort_order=desc&min_pas=0&chk_bb_type=on#results). (That's better.)\n\nIf there's a takeaway here, it's this: It's good for many hitters to hit fewer grounders, but it's only going to really matter if you're hitting it hard, too. Sanchez is.\n\n**3) He's one of the most improved hitters in the game.**\n\nIt's great to hit the ball hard more often. It's great to hit the ball hard in the air more often. But as we noted above, he's striking out slightly more (26.5 percent, up from 25.1 percent), and he's walking a lot less (9.6 percent, down from 12.3 percent). In order to account for all of that, we turn to [Expected Weighted On-Base Average](http://m.mlb.com/glossary/statcast/expected-woba), a Statcast metric that accounts for _quality_ of contact as well as _amount_ of contact. The Major League average is .321; [Sanchez sits atop the list at .530](https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfBBT=&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfGT=R%7C&hfC=&hfSea=2019%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfPull=&metric_1=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&group_by=name&sort_col=xwoba&player_event_sort=h_launch_speed&sort_order=desc&min_pas=75#results).\n\nConsidering he was at an average-ish .342 last year, that makes him one of the most improved hitters in baseball so far.\n\n**2019's most improved hitters**\n\n+.191 Cody Bellinger, LAD \n+.188 (from .342 to .530), Sanchez, NYY \n+.151 Howie Kendrick, WSH \n+.111 Hunter Dozier, KC \n+.102 Wilson Contreras, CHC\n\n_Showing Expected wOBA, min. 100 batted balls in 2018, and 50 in '19_\n\nConsidering that does included his added strikeout rate and lessened walk rate, it just goes to show how much more valuable crushing the ball in the air is over a few more whiffs. Surely, the Yankees would take the extra strikeouts so long as he's mashing like this.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2019-04-27T21:19:37.711Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-04/27/35040aa5-29092d8d-b4eda678-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Gary Sanchez crushes a grand slam over the left-center-field wall, increasing the Yankees' lead to 6-0 in the 5th inning #papaslam","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:01:10","slug":"gary-sanchez-hits-a-grand-slam-7-to-left-center-field-j-a-happ-scores-dj-lemahie","tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2019","title":"Season 2019","type":"season"},{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-596142","title":"Gary Sánchez","person":{"__ref":"Person:596142"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-147","title":"New York Yankees","team":{"__ref":"Team:147"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"hitting","title":"hitting","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"home-run","title":"home run","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"grand-slam","title":"grand slam","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/pqarqqetvbhtialevzr3"},"title":"Sanchez's mammoth grand slam","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/gary-sanchez-hits-a-grand-slam-7-to-left-center-field-j-a-happ-scores-dj-lemahie"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"But what might be most interesting here is that we can see the change in his outcomes, but not in his choices. That is, Sanchez isn't really swinging less at non-strikes, with a similar 33 percent chase rate in both 2018 and '19. He's actually swinging less at pitches in the zone, down from 59 percent to 54 percent, which may indicate a player who is targeting specific strikes rather than any strikes.\n\nEven the \"bad luck\" angle, which gained some popularity last year, doesn't seem that satisfying. Remember what manager Aaron Boone said last September:\n\n\"I think there's no question he's hit into some tough luck,\" [Boone told MLB.com in September](https://www.mlb.com/news/gary-sanchez-hopes-to-finish-2018-strong-c295624160). \"All of our internal numbers absolutely suggest that.\"\n\nThat's true ... but also maybe not as meaningful as you think. Last year, the underlying numbers -- we'll again go back to Expected wOBA here -- suggested Sanchez hit like a batter who had earned a .342 wOBA, but he only actually saw a .304 wOBA. That, or something like it, is what Boone is referring to. That's not necessarily predictive of a future change, but it does at least open the door to figure out what was going on.\n\nThen again, that hasn't changed in 2019. Sanchez is crushing the ball so hard that he's \"earned\" a .530 wOBA, yet his actual mark is a (still spectacular) .457. He's actually underperforming by more than he did in 2018, it's just not really as noticeable because he's raised his game so highly.\n\nWe didn't intend for \"raised his game\" to be the pun that it is, but it's also the perfect place to end. In 2019, it might no longer be innovative or revolutionary to say that \"it's really good to hit the ball hard in the air,\" and it's rarely as simple as that for most hitters. For Sanchez, it might be. It's not more contact. It's not bad luck. It might be better health, if the shoulder was holding his swing back in some way, but mostly it's about crushing the ball extremely hard in the best possible place for him to find success. Maybe it really is that simple.","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/gary-sanchez-improving-with-more-fly-balls","contentType":"news","subHeadline":"Yankees catcher has cut ground ball rate by 21.3 percent","summary":"Last year, Gary Sánchez struggled through a tremendously disappointing season, hitting just .186/.291/.406 (86 OPS+). It wasn't just bad. It was the lowest batting average in the entire history of the Yankees franchise, at least among hitters who'd had 350 plate appearances in a season.\nHe had a .197 batting","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2019","title":"Season 2019","type":"season"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"mike-petriello","title":"Mike Petriello","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-147","title":"New York Yankees","team":{"__ref":"Team:147"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-596142","title":"Gary Sánchez","person":{"__ref":"Person:596142"},"type":"player"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/v1555713683/mlb/wrpuzcs9742szwat9tnx","title":"Gary Sanchez improving with more fly balls"},"getTeamsBySportId({\"ids\":[1]})":[{"__ref":"Team:133"},{"__ref":"Team:134"},{"__ref":"Team:135"},{"__ref":"Team:136"},{"__ref":"Team:137"},{"__ref":"Team:138"},{"__ref":"Team:139"},{"__ref":"Team:140"},{"__ref":"Team:141"},{"__ref":"Team:142"},{"__ref":"Team:143"},{"__ref":"Team:144"},{"__ref":"Team:145"},{"__ref":"Team:146"},{"__ref":"Team:147"},{"__ref":"Team:158"},{"__ref":"Team:108"},{"__ref":"Team:109"},{"__ref":"Team:110"},{"__ref":"Team:111"},{"__ref":"Team:112"},{"__ref":"Team:113"},{"__ref":"Team:114"},{"__ref":"Team:115"},{"__ref":"Team:116"},{"__ref":"Team:117"},{"__ref":"Team:118"},{"__ref":"Team:119"},{"__ref":"Team:120"},{"__ref":"Team:121"}],"getHeaderFromForgePath({\"contentSource\":\"MLB\",\"headerPath\":\"/_navs/header/nyy/global-nav\",\"paletteKey\":\"t147-base-palette\",\"propertiesKey\":\"t147-global-properties\"})":{"__typename":"Header","navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Individual Game Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/single-game-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Promotions Schedule","linkUrl":"/tickets/promotions/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2024 Renewal Information - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets/renew","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Special Event Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/2025","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Tickets - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Chase for 28 Packages","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/chase-for-28","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Season Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Premium","linkUrl":"/tickets/premium","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Private Suites","linkUrl":"/tickets/premium/suites/individual-game/luxury-suites","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pinstripe Pass","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/pinstripe-pass","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ballpark Pass","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/ballpark-pass","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Flex Plans","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/flex-plans","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Ticket Licensees - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets/holders","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"My Yankees Account","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets/holders/account-manager","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ticket Specials","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Military & First Responders - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/govx","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"College Students - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/college-students","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Grand Slam 4-Packs - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/grand-slam-4-packs","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Students & Teachers","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials#students","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ticket Voucher Packs - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/ticket-voucher-pack","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"September Flex Pack - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/flex-pack","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Tour Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/ballpark/tours","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Mobile Ticketing","linkUrl":"/tickets/mobile/how-to-access","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Rain Check Policy","linkUrl":"/tickets/raincheck","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Tickets Terms & Conditions","linkUrl":"/tickets/ticket-back-terms-conditions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2022 Season Updates - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/fans/update","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Senior Citizens Ticket Offer - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/senior-citizens","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Refund Information - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2021 Season Updates - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/fans/update/2021","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2020 Ticket Policies for Impacted Games - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/2020-regular-season-ticket-policies","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Buy 2, Get 2, Give 4 - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/buy-2-get-2-give-4","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2020 60-Game Yankees Schedule - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/fans/information","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Holiday Ticket On-Sale","linkUrl":"/tickets/single-game-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1577242800;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Holiday Packs","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/holiday-packs","linkTarget":"","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1577941200;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Individual Game Pricing - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/pricing","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Ticket Information - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1582923460;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Hospitality Areas - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets/hospitality-areas","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"SeatGeek","linkUrl":"https://seatgeek.com/new-york-yankees-tickets?aid=15981&pid=integration&rid=1&utm_medium=partnership&utm_source=yankees_sponsorship&utm_campaign=integration","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Postseason - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason?partnerId=club-top-nav","placement":null,"visible":"false","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":"rewards","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Licensees","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets/holders","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2020 60-Game Schedule - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2022 Postseason Schedule - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2024 Regular Season Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Spring Training Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-02","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2025 Regular Season Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-03","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Printable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/printable","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Sortable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/list","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Downloadable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/downloadable-schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Promotions Schedule","linkUrl":"/tickets/promotions/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Broadcast Schedule - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/schedule/list","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Events","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Radio Network","linkUrl":"/schedule/radio-network","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2019 Postseason Schedule - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Scores","linkUrl":"/scores","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Stats","linkUrl":"/stats","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Stats","linkUrl":"/stats/team","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top Prospect Stats","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats?teamId=147","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Affiliate Stats","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats/affiliates?teamId=147","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Baseball Savant","linkUrl":"https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/team/147","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top Rookies Stats","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/yankees/stats/american-league?playerPool=ROOKIES","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Roster","linkUrl":"/roster","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"40-Man Roster","linkUrl":"/roster/40-man","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Non-Roster Invitees - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/roster/nri","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Depth Chart","linkUrl":"/roster/depth-chart","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Coaches","linkUrl":"/roster/coaches","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top 30 Prospects","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/yankees/","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Transactions","linkUrl":"/roster/transactions","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Injury Updates","linkUrl":"/news/topic/yankees-injury-report","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Draft Results","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/all/team/yankees","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Front Office","linkUrl":"/team/front-office","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Broadcasters","linkUrl":"/team/broadcasters","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Starting Lineups","linkUrl":"/roster/starting-lineups","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pronunciation Guide","linkUrl":"/team/pronunciation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Video","linkUrl":"/video","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Game Recaps","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-game-recap","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Cut4","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-cut4","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Manager Postgame","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-manager-postgame","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Reviews","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-reviews","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees HOPE Week","linkUrl":"/video/topic/hope-week","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Curtain Calls","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-curtain-calls","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Most Popular","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/yankees/video/topic/t147-default-vtp","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Productions","linkUrl":"/video/topic/yankees-productions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Podcasts","linkUrl":"/fans/podcasts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Network","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/network","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"News","linkUrl":"/news","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Official Releases","linkUrl":"/news/topic/yankees-press-releases","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Probable Pitchers","linkUrl":"/roster/probable-pitchers","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Game Notes - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/news/game-notes","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Magazine","linkUrl":"/news/topic/yankees-magazine","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Pipeline","linkUrl":"/news/topic/yankees-pipeline-coverage","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Photo Stream","linkUrl":"/team/photos","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"RSS News Feed","linkUrl":"/feeds/news/rss.xml","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees History","linkUrl":"/history","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees History Feature Stories","linkUrl":"/news/topic/yankees-history-trivia","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1638421140;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB News","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/news","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":"gameday","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/ballpark","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankee Stadium Virtual Venue","linkUrl":"http://yankees.io-media.com/","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankee Stadium Reference Guide","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankee Stadium Team Members","linkUrl":"/ballpark/services","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Sustainability Initiatives","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information/sustainability-initiatives","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"New York Yankees Museum","linkUrl":"/ballpark/tours/museum","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Dining Guide","linkUrl":"/ballpark/food","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Social Gathering Locations","linkUrl":"/ballpark/enhancements","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Tour Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/ballpark/tours","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Walk-Up Music - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/ballpark/music","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Plan Your Event at Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/ballpark/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Football at Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/tickets/events/football","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Soccer at Yankee Stadium - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/events/soccer","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLS at Yankee Stadium","linkUrl":"/ballpark/new-york-city-football-club","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Visiting New York","linkUrl":"/ballpark/visiting-new-york","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Upcoming Events","linkUrl":"/ballpark/upcoming-events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":"stadium","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"GMS Field","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Information","linkUrl":"/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"GMS Field General Information","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Health & Safety Guidelines - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark/health-and-safety","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Tickets - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Renewals - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/renewals","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Season Tickets - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/season-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Group Tickets - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/group-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Special Event Tickets - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training 3+ Game Flex Plan - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/flex-plan","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Ticket Specials - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/specials","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pinstripe Pass - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/pinstripe-pass","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"My Steinbrenner Field Account","linkUrl":"https://am.ticketmaster.com/steinbrennerfield/","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Ticket Back Terms & Conditions","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/ticket-back-terms-and-conditions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Mobile Ticketing","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/mobile","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"GMS Field Food - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark/food","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":"globe","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Community","linkUrl":"/community","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Arts","linkUrl":"/community/arts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Education","linkUrl":"/community/education","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Healthy Lifestyles","linkUrl":"/community/healthy-lifestyles","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Recreation","linkUrl":"/community/recreation","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Multicultural","linkUrl":"/community/multicultural","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Social Responsibility","linkUrl":"/community/social","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Contribution Requests","linkUrl":"/community/community-contribution","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Complimentary Ticket Program","linkUrl":"/community/complimentary-ticket-program","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Community Partners","linkUrl":"/community/community-partners","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Diversity and Inclusion Committee","linkUrl":"/community/diversity-and-inclusion-committee","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"HOPE Week","linkUrl":"/community/hope-week","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Wellness Wednesday","linkUrl":"/community/wellness-wednesday","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Together","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Fans","linkUrl":"/fans","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Hands on History","linkUrl":"/ballpark/tours/hands-on-history","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Inside Experience","linkUrl":"/tickets/inside-experience","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Connect with the Yankees","linkUrl":"/social","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Universe","linkUrl":"/fans/yankees-universe","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Fantasy Camp","linkUrl":"/fans/fantasy-camp","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Gift Guide","linkUrl":"/fans/gift-guide?affiliateId=3X1Z34L61-L40","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Experiences & Merchandise","linkUrl":"/fans/experiences-and-merchandise","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees at Home - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/fans/yankees-at-home","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Kids","linkUrl":"/fans/kids","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Baseball Camps","linkUrl":"/fans/baseball-camps","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Walk-Up Music - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/ballpark/music","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Magazine Archive - HIDDEN","linkUrl":"/fans/publications/yankees-magazine-archive","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Email Newsletters","linkUrl":"/fans/newsletters","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Text Messages","linkUrl":"/fans/text-alerts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"First Game Certificate","linkUrl":"/fans/first-game-certificate","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"New York Yankees Mastercard® Credit Card","linkUrl":"/sponsorship/bread-financial","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Standings","linkUrl":"/standings","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"appears:1717603200;expires:1720022400;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Vote","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/all-star/ballot?affiliateId=asb-topnav-club-2024","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Apps","linkUrl":"/apps","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":"watch","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"MLB.TV","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/subscribe?affiliateId=clubMENU","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Shop","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/t-14881032+z-9318197-555862172?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Jerseys","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/jerseys/t-25228765+d-0172114558+z-94-3929028894?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Caps","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/caps/t-36999821+d-6738669958+z-97-1139205032?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Men's","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/men/t-47115476+ga-78+z-990228-3163666068?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Women's","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/women/t-14339898+ga-13+z-970461-594626762?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Kids","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/kids/t-25332121+ga-25+z-942184-2242248251?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Big & Tall","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/big-and-tall/t-36668721+es-02+z-909796-1032171940?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Trading Cards","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/trading-cards/d-4507487451+z-952513-2008381280?_s=bm-mlb.com-ShopButton-2024-TradingCards-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Collectibles & Memorabilia","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/collectibles-and-memorabilia/t-25557643+d-0183997749+z-90-1013627401?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Home & Office","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/home-and-office/t-25559876+d-2383330133+z-96-1576299733?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Clearance","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/new-york-yankees/t-14881032+z-9318197-555862172?os=1&_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"European Shop","linkUrl":"http://www.mlbshopeurope.com/stores/mlb/en/c/shop-by-team/american-league/new-york-yankees?portal=M7CPLC2R&CMP=PSC-M7CPLC2R","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Gift Certificates","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/gift-cards/x-462351+z-94899005-3509039474?_s=bm-mlbcom-nyy","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Photostore","linkUrl":"https://photostore.mlb.com/collections/new+york+yankees?utm_source=new_york_yankees&utm_campaign=nav","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yankees Auctions - Bid or Buy","linkUrl":"https://yankees.auctions.mlb.com/?_gl=1*t8xqh8*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2ODEzMTA3NTguQ2p3S0NBandyZG1oQmhCQkVpd0E0SHg1Z3o2dl9TZW54SkRtTFl4REpsRVBhTHRvSmlQUjFHZTY4SGpVWmYtU0lrTWdURmdDUU9kMmVSb0NnTk1RQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE2ODEzMTA3NTguQ2p3S0NBandyZG1oQmhCQkVpd0E0SHg1Z3o2dl9TZW54SkRtTFl4REpsRVBhTHRvSmlQUjFHZTY4SGpVWmYtU0lrTWdURmdDUU9kMmVSb0NnTk1RQXZEX0J3RQ..&utm_source=Nav+Auction+Tray+NYY&utm_medium=Club.com+Shop+Nav&utm_campaign=Club.com+permanent+Navigation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Derek Jeter HOF Memorabilia","linkUrl":"https://auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/allProduct.action?sid=1101001&rc=25&fsList[0].strValue1=caf_partnerName_s&fsList[0].strValue2=jeter&sort=price_desc","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Auctions - Bid or Buy","linkUrl":"https://auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/showHomePage.action?sid=1101001&isynsharedsession=mki8i1dARcxDt3WwReTi6kJOREHftyZJNK-Xg3m10ZpEdaSACl02r4aCDzYhNvUm&utm_source=Nav+Auction+Tray+NYY&utm_medium=Club.com+Shop+Nav+MLB&utm_campaign=Club.com+permanent+Navigation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Authentication","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/official-information/authentication","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Store Locations","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information/team-store","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"module:teammodule;align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Teams","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/team","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Module","linkUrl":null,"linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"module:teammodule;"}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Español","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/es/yankees","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]}],"cfPalette":{"__typename":"CF_Palette","headerMastheadBackgroundColor":"#002a5c","headerMastheadTextColor":"#ffffff","headerNavigationBackgroundColor":"#132448","headerNavigationBorderColor":"#C4CED4","headerNavigationTextColorHover":"#333333","headerNavigationTextColor":"#ffffff"},"cfWebProperties":{"__typename":"CF_WebProperties","urlLogo":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iiozhi00a8lc/t147_url_logoyankees_url_svg/13920414e3f670d9a1af0413f11eef4b/t147_url_logo.svg"},"headerMastheadTagline":null,"headerPrimaryLogo":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadSponsorImage":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadTaglineContainerWidth":"512px","headerMastheadTaglineContainerHeight":"60px"}}},"Team:147":{"__typename":"Team","id":147,"division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"name":"New York Yankees","shortName":"NY Yankees","teamName":"Yankees"},"Person:596142":{"__typename":"Person","id":596142},"Division:200":{"__typename":"Division","id":"200"},"Team:133":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":133,"name":"Oakland Athletics","shortName":"Oakland","teamName":"Athletics"},"Division:205":{"__typename":"Division","id":"205"},"Team:134":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":134,"name":"Pittsburgh Pirates","shortName":"Pittsburgh","teamName":"Pirates"},"Division:203":{"__typename":"Division","id":"203"},"Team:135":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":135,"name":"San Diego Padres","shortName":"San Diego","teamName":"Padres"},"Team:136":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":136,"name":"Seattle Mariners","shortName":"Seattle","teamName":"Mariners"},"Team:137":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":137,"name":"San Francisco Giants","shortName":"San Francisco","teamName":"Giants"},"Team:138":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":138,"name":"St. Louis Cardinals","shortName":"St. Louis","teamName":"Cardinals"},"Division:201":{"__typename":"Division","id":"201"},"Team:139":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":139,"name":"Tampa Bay Rays","shortName":"Tampa Bay","teamName":"Rays"},"Team:140":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":140,"name":"Texas Rangers","shortName":"Texas","teamName":"Rangers"},"Team:141":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":141,"name":"Toronto Blue Jays","shortName":"Toronto","teamName":"Blue Jays"},"Division:202":{"__typename":"Division","id":"202"},"Team:142":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":142,"name":"Minnesota Twins","shortName":"Minnesota","teamName":"Twins"},"Division:204":{"__typename":"Division","id":"204"},"Team:143":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":143,"name":"Philadelphia Phillies","shortName":"Philadelphia","teamName":"Phillies"},"Team:144":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":144,"name":"Atlanta Braves","shortName":"Atlanta","teamName":"Braves"},"Team:145":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":145,"name":"Chicago White Sox","shortName":"Chi White Sox","teamName":"White Sox"},"Team:146":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":146,"name":"Miami Marlins","shortName":"Miami","teamName":"Marlins"},"Team:158":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":158,"name":"Milwaukee Brewers","shortName":"Milwaukee","teamName":"Brewers"},"Team:108":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":108,"name":"Los Angeles Angels","shortName":"LA Angels","teamName":"Angels"},"Team:109":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":109,"name":"Arizona Diamondbacks","shortName":"Arizona","teamName":"D-backs"},"Team:110":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":110,"name":"Baltimore Orioles","shortName":"Baltimore","teamName":"Orioles"},"Team:111":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":111,"name":"Boston Red Sox","shortName":"Boston","teamName":"Red Sox"},"Team:112":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":112,"name":"Chicago Cubs","shortName":"Chi Cubs","teamName":"Cubs"},"Team:113":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":113,"name":"Cincinnati Reds","shortName":"Cincinnati","teamName":"Reds"},"Team:114":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":114,"name":"Cleveland Guardians","shortName":"Cleveland","teamName":"Guardians"},"Team:115":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":115,"name":"Colorado Rockies","shortName":"Colorado","teamName":"Rockies"},"Team:116":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":116,"name":"Detroit Tigers","shortName":"Detroit","teamName":"Tigers"},"Team:117":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":117,"name":"Houston Astros","shortName":"Houston","teamName":"Astros"},"Team:118":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":118,"name":"Kansas City Royals","shortName":"Kansas City","teamName":"Royals"},"Team:119":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":119,"name":"Los Angeles Dodgers","shortName":"LA Dodgers","teamName":"Dodgers"},"Team:120":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":120,"name":"Washington Nationals","shortName":"Washington","teamName":"Nationals"},"Team:121":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":121,"name":"New York Mets","shortName":"NY Mets","teamName":"Mets"}}}
window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbyankees","linkInternalFilters":"newyork,yankees"}
window.globalState = {"tracking_title":"New York Yankees","lang":"en"}
window.appId = ''
/*-->*/
How Yanks star became the 'Sanchize' again
How Yanks star became the 'Sanchize' again
Yankees catcher has cut ground ball rate by 21.3 percent
Last year, Gary Sánchez struggled through a tremendously disappointing season, hitting just .186/.291/.406 (86 OPS+). It wasn't just bad. It was the lowest batting average in the entire history of the Yankees franchise, at least among hitters who'd had 350 plate appearances in a season.
So far in 2019, he's striking out more. He's walking less. His .225 BABIP is still well below the Major League average of .291. You'd think those things would be problematic, that his 2018 struggles would have carried over into 2019. They haven't. Sanchez has been absolutely incredible.
He crushed the ball in 45 plate appearances before going on the injured list with a minor calf strain, hitting .268/.333/.732 (1.065 OPS). He's crushed the ball in 38 plate appearances since returning, hitting .281/.395/.781 (1.176 OPS), including three homers among his five hits against the Twins this weekend. He's been the best hitter in baseball, by one of the more powerful Statcast hitting metrics. It's been only 83 plate appearances, we understand, but Sanchez looks truly different. What's changed?
Let's keep this simple and break it down into three reasons.
1) Sanchez is hitting the ball in the air, or at least not on the ground
This isn't going to be entirely about ground balls, but we have to start with the ground balls, or lack of them. Last June, we tried to figure out what was happening to cause Sanchez's season to go so sideways.
"It might be simple," we wrote 11 months ago. "When Sanchez hits the ball in the air, he does it very well. When he hits it on the ground, he does it worse than almost anyone."
That makes sense, intuitively. As a slow-footed catcher -- he's in the 15th percentile of Sprint Speed, the Statcast running speed metric, meaning 85 percent of players are faster than he is -- you would expect that hitting the ball on the ground would go poorly for Sanchez. But it's more than just about slow running speed, because Sanchez simply didn't hit the ball that hard on the ground. His average exit velocity on grounders was 85.8 mph; on flies and liners, it was 97.7 mph.
That gap hasn't changed much this year. (It's actually gotten wider, as he's hitting the ball 84.9 mph on the ground and 102.4 mph on flies and liners, the highest mark in baseball.) He hit .091 on grounders last season. He's hitting .091 on grounders this season.
If hitting the ball on the ground doesn't lead to success for most hitters, and it especially doesn't lead to success for Sanchez, there's only one thing left to do: Stop hitting grounders. No one in baseball has cut down their ground ball rate as much as Sanchez has.
Biggest decrease in ground ball rate, 2018-19
-21.3 percent (from 42.9 to 21.6 percent), Gary Sanchez, NYY -20.1 percent, Ian Desmond, COL -17.2 percent, Trey Mancini, BAL -15.7 percent, Michael Conforto, NYM -14.7 percent, Jorge Polanco, MIN
Min. 300 plate appearances in 2018 and 80 in 2019
Gary Sanchez BA on grounders, 2018: .091 Gary Sanchez BA on grounders, 2019: .091
Sanchez has always had an elite hard-hit tool, obviously. Between 2016 and '18, the Major League average for hard-hit rate was 34.4 percent, and Sanchez was at 43.7 percent. He's one of just four players to hit a ball at least 118 mph twice or more since 2016. He's always been able to crush baseballs.
This year, it's been even better. Sanchez has upped his hard-hit rate from 41.6 percent to 54.9 percent. Considering how valuable a hard-hit ball is -- the Majors hit .525 on hard-hit balls last year, and just .210 when not getting up to that 95 mph of exit velocity -- this tells you a lot of the story right here. There are 223 players who had 100 batted balls in 2018 and 50 this year, and Sanchez's +13.3 percent increase in hard-hit rate is the ninth highest in baseball.
This also goes back to the change in ground balls, by the way. Remember: Sanchez is not good at hitting it hard on the ground. He's very good at hitting it hard in the air. Last year, 32 percent of his grounders were hard-hit, and that's down to 27 percent this year. (That's worse.) Last year, 60.8 percent of his flies and liners were hard-hit, and that's up to 75.8 percent this year, the best in baseball. (That's better.)
If there's a takeaway here, it's this: It's good for many hitters to hit fewer grounders, but it's only going to really matter if you're hitting it hard, too. Sanchez is.
3) He's one of the most improved hitters in the game.
It's great to hit the ball hard more often. It's great to hit the ball hard in the air more often. But as we noted above, he's striking out slightly more (26.5 percent, up from 25.1 percent), and he's walking a lot less (9.6 percent, down from 12.3 percent). In order to account for all of that, we turn to Expected Weighted On-Base Average, a Statcast metric that accounts for quality of contact as well as amount of contact. The Major League average is .321; Sanchez sits atop the list at .530.
Considering he was at an average-ish .342 last year, that makes him one of the most improved hitters in baseball so far.
Showing Expected wOBA, min. 100 batted balls in 2018, and 50 in '19
Considering that does included his added strikeout rate and lessened walk rate, it just goes to show how much more valuable crushing the ball in the air is over a few more whiffs. Surely, the Yankees would take the extra strikeouts so long as he's mashing like this.
But what might be most interesting here is that we can see the change in his outcomes, but not in his choices. That is, Sanchez isn't really swinging less at non-strikes, with a similar 33 percent chase rate in both 2018 and '19. He's actually swinging less at pitches in the zone, down from 59 percent to 54 percent, which may indicate a player who is targeting specific strikes rather than any strikes.
Even the "bad luck" angle, which gained some popularity last year, doesn't seem that satisfying. Remember what manager Aaron Boone said last September:
"I think there's no question he's hit into some tough luck," Boone told MLB.com in September. "All of our internal numbers absolutely suggest that."
That's true ... but also maybe not as meaningful as you think. Last year, the underlying numbers -- we'll again go back to Expected wOBA here -- suggested Sanchez hit like a batter who had earned a .342 wOBA, but he only actually saw a .304 wOBA. That, or something like it, is what Boone is referring to. That's not necessarily predictive of a future change, but it does at least open the door to figure out what was going on.
Then again, that hasn't changed in 2019. Sanchez is crushing the ball so hard that he's "earned" a .530 wOBA, yet his actual mark is a (still spectacular) .457. He's actually underperforming by more than he did in 2018, it's just not really as noticeable because he's raised his game so highly.
We didn't intend for "raised his game" to be the pun that it is, but it's also the perfect place to end. In 2019, it might no longer be innovative or revolutionary to say that "it's really good to hit the ball hard in the air," and it's rarely as simple as that for most hitters. For Sanchez, it might be. It's not more contact. It's not bad luck. It might be better health, if the shoulder was holding his swing back in some way, but mostly it's about crushing the ball extremely hard in the best possible place for him to find success. Maybe it really is that simple.