The Dominican catcher has starred in a couple of infamous clips over the past couple of weeks, which is why it was so important for him to bounce back in a big way with a home run to lead his team to a crucial win in the hunt for a playoff berth.

“I felt good tonight,” Sanchez said after beating the Rangers.“I’ve got to say, it’s been a couple of games where I’ve felt really good at the plate. That’s what I’m looking for, that consistency. It’s something I’ve been chasing all year long.”

Aaron Boone, Aaron Judge Speak Up On Gary Sanchez

As per usual, manager Aaron Boone had El Kraken’s back. He said that, while he’s had some tough outings and has made terrible mistakes, he’s still a much better defender this year than he was before:

“Sometimes because Gary is the lightning rod that he seems to be sometimes, a play or two torpedoes some of that or changes that narrative,” Boone said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge the strides that he has made in every facet on the defensive side while also acknowledging a couple of big mistakes this week.”

Aaron Judge also lauded Sanchez’s work ethic, claiming that he’s always looking forward to improving, learning, and becoming a better player:

“The biggest thing is him showing up, ready to work, ready to learn every single day,” Judge said. “Especially a guy that I feel has gotten beaten down and kind of abused over the years, he’s a guy that continues to show up every day, works hard. He always wants to learn. He always wants to improve.”

Yankees Are Confident In Their Chances

Despite plenty of ups and downs, the Yankees are pretty much alive in the race for a Wild Card spot in the American League. And, while they still need some help from their rivals, they know that they control their destiny:

“It’s all in our hands,” Judge said. “If we go out there and take care of business, do what we need to do, we’re going to be where we want to be in October. We feel great. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I like where we’re at. I wish we were in a different spot, but that’s where we’re at right now.”

It seems like the Bronx Bombers are peaking at the right time, and albeit Sanchez’s presence will always raise some concerns, it’s nice to know that his teammates and manager still have his back.

He’s coming off a terrible season slashing just .147/.253/.365 and his never-ending slumps were only topped by his subpar defense, prompting the Yankees’ fanbase to urge for his release or trade.

That’s why he knows that he’s walking on thin ice as he heads to the 2021 season, and why he vowed to leave those woes behind and be mentally stronger to try and help the team make the World Series.

Gary Sanchez Says He Was Too Anxious In 2020

“You go into a short season and you’re not getting the results you want, you start getting anxious. You get to the point where you’re not producing the results you want, and then at some point, you start wanting to get two hits in one at-bat,” Sanchez said through an interpreter, according to The New York Post.

Aaron Boone Has Sanchez’s Back

Manager Aaron Boone once again stood by his catcher, claiming that he’s an outstanding player that has the ability to navigate through his slumps. He’s confident that he’ll show that this season:

“I think even at his lowest … he’s very confident in what he’s capable of doing and his ability. That said, I do think there’s been moments where there has … probably at times last year where [he was] pressing. You want to make up for some of the struggles you’ve had. That can snowball on you a little bit. I’ve certainly been there at the plate where even though you know what you’re capable of, you’re still in a funk where tension still sets in,” Boone said.

“But part of being a big leaguer and part of being an outstanding player is being able to navigate those, because you’re going to get hit in the mouth. You’re going to struggle. You’re going to have a few days where you’re feeling bad. The really good ones find a way to navigate out of that,” the manager concluded.

There’s not much room for error for the New York Yankees in 2021 and Gary Sanchez has often been the odd man out, so hopefully for him and the fans, he’ll bounce back in a big way and silence his critics once and for all.

It may sound like a bit of a stretch, but Sanchez has been terrible the past two seasons, struggling to make contact and looking even worse in defense. The team, however, continues to stick by him.

That’s why Sanchez is reportedly in ‘revenge mode’ right now and looking to prove that he’s one of the best catchers in the league, and his teammates are quite impressed with the shape he’s in right now.

Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu Laud Gary Sanchez, Think He Could Win MVP

“Gary’s a guy that can go out there and win AL MVP. He’s that dynamic and that important of a player to this team,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said following his team’s 4-0 win over the Phillies.

“He does seem very focused in his early work. Out to prove that he’s Gary Sanchez and he’s one of the best catchers in the league. He was grinding (last year), but he was always a great teammate, always positive. He’s the same guy this year, but he does seem very focused on his early work to prove that he’s Gary Sánchez and he’s one of the best catchers in this league,” DJ LeMahieu added.

“He’s helped drive a lot of his work — not to say that there wasn’t in the past, but there’s just a real business-like way he’s going about things. I think his foundation’s a little bit better at this point than it was last year. I just feel like he looks like he’s in a really good place,” his manager concluded.

It’s clear that Sanchez still has a lot of work to do to get the fan’s stamp of approval but it’s always great to see a player working hard and impress his teammates with his work ethic. Hopefully, he’ll finally take a step forward this season and help them put an end to their World Series drought.