Ali Sánchez checks into paternity list

This was expected after J.C. Escarra was sent down on Thursday night. Sánchez will return to his role as the back-up behind Austin Wells.

Escarra was with the big league club for a couple of days while Ali Sánchez was away on paternity leave. With Sánchez set to return on Friday, Escarra became expendable once again. The 31-year-old backstop has hit just .188 (16-for-85) with zero homers and seven RBI in his time with the Yankees this season.

Sánchez will undergo a CT scan out of an abundance of caution after taking a pitch off his right wrist during Monday’s game against the Tigers. He appears to have avoided serious injury, which is great news for New York’s catching situation.

Sánchez was hit by a 97.8 mph pitch on the right wrist after going 1-for-2 with an RBI. The 29-year-old backstop will undergo X-rays to determine whether he suffered any fractures. An update on his status should follow the contest.

The Yankees are keeping Ali Sánchez, who is out of options, over Escarra with Austin Wells returning Sunday. Escarra was 5-for-23 with a couple of doubles while Wells was out.

Wells, who has been sidelined since early June due to cervical headaches, has been playing in minor league rehab games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since Tuesday. Expect Ali Sanchez to return to Triple-A upon Wells’ return on Sunday.

Sánchez provides New York with a bit more offensive upside against left-handed pitching from their backup catcher spot over J.C. Escarra, who was shipped to the minors following Friday’s contest. The 29-year-old journeyman has appeared in 50 games between five different teams since 2020. He’s the textbook definition of a journeyman backstop in the modern era.

The 31-year-old backstop really struggled offensively during his time with the Yankees, slashing a woeful .177/.235/.258 with zero homers, seven RBI and a 15/5 K/BB ratio in 68 plate appearances. The expectation is that the Yankees will promote Ali Sanchez from Triple-A on Saturday to take Escarra’s spot on the active roster.

The Yankees had said all along that regardless of how he performed during the spring, it was likely that the Martian would be starting the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and that’s where he’ll head despite slashing .325/.378/.600 with three homers, 10 RBI and three stolen bases in 45 plate appearances during Grapefruit League play. He has all of the skills to be an impact fantasy contributor, but it’ll take an injury for him to get enough playing time with the Bombers to bring that to fruition.

Domínguez enters a pivotal spring training without a clear avenue to regular playing time after New York re-signed veterans Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham earlier this offseason. The 23-year-old former top prospect could potentially wind up back at Triple-A to continue his development by playing everyday. These situations have a way of sorting themselves out but it’s clear that Domínguez will offer minimal fantasy appeal in a reduced role at the highest level. Here is the full lineup: Domínguez (LF), Aaron Judge (RF), Ryan McMahon (3B), Paul Goldschmidt (DH), Seth Brown (1B), Paul DeJong (SS), Spencer Jones (CF), Max Schuemann (2B) and Ali Sánchez (C).