The New York Yankees have begun a youth movement. After the team called up Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin and inserted them into its every day lineups, New York has now made Gary Sanchez the team's primary catcher. It's another step in the right direction for the Yankees as they shift to more of a scout and develop approach and build their roots from the farm system.
Of course, it's also important to look at this news from a fantasy perspective. Even as the season nears its final months, there is still time for additions in season-long, redraft leagues to make a playoff push and moves to make in dynasty leagues for the future.
Sanchez has certainly been hot as of late. Since he was called up on August 3, the 23-year-old catcher has a 199 wRC+, .468 wOBA.349 isolated power and five home runs in 48 plate appearances. Now it's certainly a small sample size and these numbers are unsustainable, but we are seeing some of what Sanchez is capable. From a fantasy perspective, he should certainly draw plenty of attention as a power-hitting backstop in Yankee Stadium for half his games.
While his minor-league career was inconsistent with up and down years, he has started to put it together more consistently since the 2015 season. What's encouraging about him is that he doesn't strikeout at an especially alarming rate. He has been under 20 percent since 2013 in the minors and while that number could hang closer to 20 percent against major-league pitching, it's still not all that concerning.
Also a plus, after serious questions about his defensive capabilities as a catcher in previous seasons, Sanchez has made tremendous strides behind the plate and solidified himself as the Yankees' catcher of the future and now present. He offers lots of fantasy appeal long-term, especially when the Yankees' farm system develops and comes up. In the short-term, he makes for a nice No.2 catcher/backup catcher in redraft leagues.