MILWAUKEE – Gary Sánchez was a late and somewhat pricey addition to the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster but boy, has he been a good one.
The veteran slugger has been swinging a hot bat for the Brewers of late, batting .316 (6-for-19), and he has also been coming up big when the team needs it most, no more so than Thursday afternoon when he broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run home run in the eighth inning that proved to be the difference in Milwaukee’s 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field.
Gary Sánchez for the lead! pic.twitter.com/sBYS8ObcrG
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2024
It was the second time this season that the Brewers won a game on a late Sánchez homer. It was also the second time he did so on a two-strike, two-out pitch that was outside of the zone.
“Anytime you’re on the field you have the opportunity to help the team win,” Sánchez said. “If that’s not today, the opportunity can be tomorrow. I’ve been able to get some opportunities of late and hopefully that can continue to get there.”
Gary Sánchez Coming Up Huge for Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee signed Sánchez to a one-year, $7 million contract at the start of spring training, in large part to help rectify a longstanding issue with hitting left-handed pitching. But his late signing, combined with a wrist injury suffered while working out prior to signing, left him playing catch-up when Cactus League play got underway.
Regular season starter William Contreras’ scorching-hot bat and iron man durability behind the plate, as well as a steady dose of right-handed opposing starters, initially limited Sanchez’s playing time.
Opportunity presented itself, though, when first baseman Rhys Hoskins landed on the injured list. Sánchez started making more frequent appearances in manager Pat Murphy’s lineup, both at first base and designated hitter, with the occasional start behind the plate on days when Murphy moved Contreras into the DH role.
As Sánchez’s playing time has increased, so has his production and in turn, Murphy’s confidence in giving him more opportunities against right-handers.
“He’s proven time and time again he’s very very capable against lefties, for sure, but also he’s capable as he proved against righties,” Murphy said. “He can hit in the clutch and gives you a good at-bat. He’s gonna have some strikeouts but the guy is dangerous and everybody in the league knows it. I’m happy for him. He’s kind of shoved it in our faces a little bit like, ‘Hey, I can hit more than lefties.’”
Hoskins Getting Close
Speaking of Hoskins, Murphy said there’s a good chance he’ll be back on the active roster next week when the Brewers travel to Philadelphia, where Hoskins played six seasons before signing with Milwaukee in January.
In fact, there’s an outside chance that Hoskins could return as early as this weekend for Milwaukee’s interleague series against the Chicago White Sox.
“No decisions have been made but he’s been trending in the right direction,” Murphy said.
Roster Moves
The Brewers added a fresh arm to their bullpen before the game by recalling right-hander Kevin Herget from Nashville. Herget appeared in two games for Milwaukee earlier this season and allowed two runs over 3 ⅔ innings of work.
To clear a roster spot for Herget, Milwaukee designated right-handed reliever Mitch White for assignment.
On the Farm
Right-hander Craig Yoho earned a promotion to Double-A Biloxi after an impressive showing at High-A Wisconsin, where he posted a 0.44 ERA in 16 appearances this season. The former Indiana University standout was Milwaukee’s eighth-round pick in last year’s MLB Draft and went on to post a 10.13 ERA in three appearances for the Brewers’ Arizona Complex League squad after signing.
In Biloxi, Yoho will join a pitching staff headlined by Milwaukee’s top overall prospect, right-hander Jacob Misiorowski who allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out seven in four innings against Pensacola Thursday night. Misiorowski, the Brewers’ second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, has a 2.52 ERA and has struck out 54 batters over 39 ⅓ innings this season.
Up Next
The Brewers welcome another rival from just down I-94 when they open a three-game interleague series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night at American Family Field. Tobias Myers (1-2, 4.43 ERA) gets the start for Milwaukee (32-23, 1st NL Central) with right-hander Erick Fedde (4-1, 2.80) getting the nod for Chicago (15-42, 5th AL Central).
Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
