Look, I love that Kyle Higashioka as one of the Yankees catchers, but it was very evident to me that the Yankees don't have confidence that he can take the reigns as their back up or even top catcher if someone like Gary Sanchez gets hurt.
And trust me, with Gary's track record, he's gonna get hurt.
The Yanks came out and said they were satisfied with Higashioka in the backup role, but then, remember what they did? They picked up a crap load of catchers, many veterans with that experience of a backup… Erik Kratz, Chris Iannetta and Josh Thole.
To me, that's a red flag. To me, that's the Yankees saying they're not comfy with Kyle back there. Hey, it could be me speculating, but I think I'm right about this one.
Anyway, I love Kyle's confidence regardless, and I know that he can probably prove the doubters wrong and I appreciate and respect that. George A. King III of the New York Post writes a great piece on Higashioka and here is some of it:
"Romine’s departure ensured Higashioka, 30, would be Sanchez’s backup in 2020 and, barring a spring training injury, he would be on a big-league Opening Day roster for the first time in his career on March 26 in Baltimore against the Orioles.
'[March 26] would have been my first major league Opening Day. But, to be honest, I didn’t really think about it during the day,’ Higashioka told The Post’s Ken Davidoff for a Yankees diary entry in March...
Like Romine, Higashioka has a good relationship with pitchers and worked smoothly with Gerrit Cole in the right-hander’s final spring training outing March 10. The true value of a backup catcher is solid defense, because hitting in the big leagues is hard enough for everyday players, never mind those who play once a week.
However, being Sanchez’s backup the past three years also entails stretches as the No. 1 catcher. Romine handled that well and was considered among the best backups in the game. Now, it’s Higashioka’s turn.
'He has improved every year and has worked hard at it,’ an NL talent evaluator said. 'Each year he does more. He has a little power and receives the ball well. This past spring training he threw better than he did last year.’"
Look, here's the real situation when it comes to Higashioka. Spring is an early experiment. No harm if things doesn't work out, that's why those other catchers are there. If Kyle does well, those other guys eventually fall by the waste side. If Kyle flounders, you got guys like Thole or Iannetta that can jump in at any moment with that veteran grit.
In the back of my mind I think that Higashioka can prove that he's a terrific back up and hey, maybe even eventually be a starter. Not sure about the Yankees, but somewhere.
Be sure to read the rest of that King article, it's great.
Happy Friday everyone. Be safe.
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