Sanchez catches, goes 1 for 4 in 1st recreation with Padres

MIAMI — Gary Sánchez began at catcher and batted seventh in his first recreation with the San Diego Padres.

A day after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets, Sánchez was within the beginning lineup towards the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night time. Wearing No. 99, he went 1 for 4 with an infield hit in a 9-4 victory.

“You come to a point in time in a season where you try to incrementally upgrade,” Padres supervisor Bob Melvin stated. “I know he’s been through a few teams here recently but does have a history of performing.”

Sánchez, a two-time All-Star. was designated for task final Thursday after taking part in in three video games for the Mets. He went 1 for six with three strikeouts and an RBI, wanting shaky at occasions behind the plate.

“It’s been a little difficult but what’s happened has been in the past,” Sánchez stated of his crew adjustments, talking via a translator. “Now I am looking to the future here in San Diego. I’m focused on now.”

With the disappointing Padres getting meager offensive manufacturing at catcher, they hope Sánchez can present a lift. Austin Nola was batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 video games. His part-time platoon companion, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, was hitting .170 with 4 extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 video games since getting referred to as up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured listing since April 17 and is anticipated to be sidelined till across the All-Star break following left thumb surgical procedure.

“I’m excited to be able join a clubhouse that has so many superstars,” Sánchez stated. “There is so much talent on this team. I’m just excited to be able to help, contribute.”

San Diego grew to become the third National League crew to take a detailed have a look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He frolicked within the minors with San Francisco earlier than getting launched May 2 and signing a minor league contract per week later with the Mets, who had been minus a few injured catchers on the time.

After hitting nicely in a brief stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the large leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured listing final week, Sánchez was lower.

Sánchez’s greatest seasons got here early in his profession with the New York Yankees, the place he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star crew in 2017 and 2019. He hit 20 residence runs with a 1.032 OPS in 53 video games in 2016, had 33 homers and 90 RBIs with an .876 OPS in 2017, and 34 homers with 77 RBIs and an .841 OPS in 2019.

Sánchez was traded to Minnesota earlier than the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 video games final yr.

San Diego started Tuesday with a serious league low .220 crew batting common.