New York Yankees To Bat Gary Sanchez In Two-Hole To Begin Season

The New York Yankees are expected to use Gary Sanchez in the two-hole to begin the 2017 regular season.

There has been a different feel around Spring Training for the New York Yankees this spring. There is no pressure to win a World Series as there normally is. Instead, there is optimism for the future as the young kids have been the center of attention.

The Yankees have been rolling through Spring Training. They have the best record of any team in the Grapefruit League or Cactus League, going 22-8 thus far. They have received excellent performances from youngsters and veterans alike who will look to carry the momentum into the regular season.

One player ready for the regular season is catcher Gary Sanchez. Sanchez took baseball by storm last season. He launched 20 home runs, knocking in 42 runs while slashing .299/.376/.656 in 201 at-bats. The offseason did not slow him down.

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Sanchez picked up in Spring Training right where he left off from the regular season. In 46 at-bats this spring, Sanchez has four home runs, 13 RBI, and 10 runs scored while slashing .348/.412/.695.

The Yankees are hoping that production carries over to the regular season when games begin to count. Brian McCann was traded to the Houston Astros, so the starting catcher job is Sanchez’s. The Yankees hope that Sanchez will still produce despite a change to the lineup.

Last season Sanchez made a majority of his appearance in the No.3 spot in the lineup. It made sense as he quickly became a major run producer for the team. This season the Yankees are going to use Sanchez in the No.2 hole, most likely behind Brett Gardner.

"“It makes it harder to navigate through our lineup,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We feel like it’s a better situation for all of us. This could very well be similar to our Opening Day lineup.”"

Girardi also said that Greg Bird, Matt Holliday, and Jacoby Ellsbury would follow in the lineup. For a number driven manager such as Girardi, this isn’t a huge surprise. Analytics say that the best hitter in your lineup should be batting in the No.2 hole. Also, as Girardi mentions, it makes for a tougher lineup to navigate.

Opposing managers will have to figure out how to mix-and-match. By alternating left-handed and right-handed batters, opponents will have to make a lot of pitching changes or be forced into situations that the numbers do not favor them in.

Of course, this could all change in a few weeks. Once Didi Gregorius is healthy and able to return he can fit into multiple spots in the Yankees lineup. He could probably slide into Ellsbury’s spot as the No.5 hitter if Ellsbury bombs in a run producing role again.

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The Yankees will have to figure that out once the time comes. For now, Sanchez will hold down the No.2 spot and should succeed. Gardner has a good on-base percentage of .346 in his career, which should give Sanchez plenty of run producing opportunities early in games. It also looks like he will have good protection from Greg Bird, who has been outstanding this spring.

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