09 Oct Getting to Know NY Yankees Catcher Gary Sanchez
This past Motzei Shabbos, Gary Sanchez homered twice for 4 RBIs, becoming the first Yankees catcher since Yogi Berra in 1956 with two jacks in a postseason game. Before the season Ari Hirsch/The Vues sat down with Gary.
Born: December 2, 1992 (age 25) in
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 230 lb.
Nickname: The Kraken
John Sterling Home Run Call: GARY IS SCARY
Salary: $620,400 in 2018
Boyhood idol? A: Manny Ramirez
Catchers you’ve enjoyed watching? A: While growing up Jason Varitek for the Red Sox. I liked the way he called games and received the ball. Today, there’s so many guys that I like, like Mac [Brian McCann], Yadier Molina, Salvador Perez, Cervelli.
Hobbies? A: Video games, and I also like to spend time with the family, go somewhere nice so we can relax, a nice beach or something like that.
How did you become a catcher? A: When I was 8 years old, when I started playing baseball for the first time, they actually put me in the outfield. I was the new guy, so they sent me back there. Eventually, when the manager saw that I had some kind of ability, they put me at third base. And I was pretty good at third base. Because later on I was playing with older kids that were 17 and I was 13 at the time. There was a guy playing third base that was better than me. And because I used to practice with my brother catching and throwing and I would receive the ball, I told the manager, “Hey, let me catch.” They needed a catcher on that team, and because I had a good arm, they allowed me to catch, and whenever scouts would come by, I would catch and they would see me throw. I always had a good arm, so that kind of opened some guys.
How do you feel about playing in the New York market, with all the spotlight? A: I feel fine here. One thing is that when I go out there, I try to give my best, everything I have, to help the team win. That’s it, that’s what I focus on.
What is your on-field mentality? A: When I’m in the game, I try to focus on the game plan for that night, try to find the best way possible to help the pitcher and anybody else that I can, and focus on winning.
What drives you? A: My daughter is definitely the biggest motivation for me, because I want to make sure she has a nice life. I want to make sure that she has a good education.
How excited are you about this season? A: Very excited. We have a lot of new faces on the team and and a new manager and I think we can go far.
If you can have 3 dinner guests, anyone from baseball history, who would you invite? A: Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez & Mariano Rivera.