PHILADELPHIA – As expected, catcher Gary Sanchez landed on the disabled list Monday, following an MRI in Tampa, Fla., that diagnosed a strained right groin, the New York Yankees announced.
Kyle Higashioka, the starting catcher at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre who appeared in nine games with the Yankees in 2017, was recalled and will back up Austin Romine.
Sanchez, 25, suffered the injury trying to beat out a double-play ball in the 10th inning of the 7-6 defeat.
Though the season mostly has been a struggle for Sanchez at the plate — hitting .190 with a .291 on-base percentage — he still has 14 homers, 14 doubles and 41 RBI, the fourth most on the team.
"That's how baseball is sometimes," Sanchez said through his translator on Sunday. "You never want something bad to happen, but it's part of baseball. Now I'm just hoping it's not a long time. I have to keep my head up and come back as soon as possible."
The Yankees also optioned outfielder Clint Frazier to Triple-A and recalled righthander Giovanny Gallegos to add an option to a bullpen that was called on for eight-plus innings in Sunday's 12-inning loss to the Rays.
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