Yankees’ Ali Sanchez Injured but Hopeful for Quick Recovery

DETROIT — Ali Sanchez was set to be on parental leave for several days this week. But following Monday night’s game, the Yankees were concerned about a right wrist injury that could extend his absence.

The catcher, who had been performing admirably in limited starts since his call-up earlier this month, had to leave the Yankees’ 5-3 loss to the Tigers after being struck by a 98 mph fastball from Drew Anderson, leading to significant pain.

X-rays came back negative, yet Sanchez was scheduled for a CT scan post-game to ensure there was no further damage.

“Initially, he was in so much pain that he was out right away,” manager Aaron Boone shared. “I hope the CT scan comes back clean, but we’ll see.”

Sanchez had the Yankees’ only double off Tigers’ pitcher Framber Valdez, breaking the team’s 0-for-23 streak and putting a runner in scoring position, which was a relief for fans and teammates alike.

The right-handed hitter boasts a batting average of .316, with six hits in 19 at-bats, an OPS of .802, and three RBIs in ten games.

“I think he did really well,” Boone noted. “He was in control at the plate, which is great to see. I’m optimistic this is just a minor issue.”

Sanchez is expected to be placed on the paternity list soon, and JC Escala is already in town with the Yankees’ taxi squad to step in, should Sanchez need to go on injured reserve.

Interestingly, during the game, there was a six-minute delay when a camera exposed in the infield dirt became a distraction. Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempted to cover the camera with dirt but ultimately, the grounds crew had to intervene while Gerrit Cole kept warm, trying to stay loose.

“It’s just part of 2026,” Cole remarked. “We managed to deal with the delay and still made quality pitches, but it wasn’t exactly easy.”

On a brighter note, Trent Grisham is unexpectedly ahead of schedule in his recovery. The outfielder, out since June 13 due to a moderate right hamstring strain, has been acing agility drills lately. He’s set to play against the Yankees this weekend at Fenway Park, working back into the swing of things with base running, batting practice, and fly balls before potentially joining a rehab game next week.

“We’re not rushing it,” Boone clarified. “It’s promising how well he’s moving, and we hope to keep this momentum going.”

Boone didn’t provide updates on Aaron Judge, who is set for a re-imaging of his stress fracture in his right rib earlier than expected. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton might be feeling a bit better on Tuesday, following a setback with a calf strain a little over a week ago.

In roster news, the Yankees called up Yerry de los Santos on Monday to fill the bullpen spot vacated by Jake Bird. Elmer Rodriguez used that spot for a start on Sunday, before heading back to Triple-A.

Boone mentioned that various relief pitchers were considered, including the hard-throwing Yovanny Cruz, but de los Santos was chosen for his fit in the role, having gone seven appearances without allowing a run.