Slugging Sanchez leads Yanks’ youth movement

NEW YORK — An early indication that the Yankees might be about to witness something special took place on a remote diamond of their Spring Training complex back in early February, when an assault of batting practice home runs forced observers peeking through a chain-link outfield fence to take cover.

Those thunderous drives were being launched off of Gary Sanchez’s bat, making the same impressive noise as they would in August and September, when the power-hitting rookie catcher equaled an 86-year-old record by belting 20 homers in his first 51 Major League games.

“When I came up, what I was thinking about was just getting the opportunity to play,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “They gave me the opportunity, I became the everyday catcher and good things have happened for me. It has been a special time for me because of everything that has happened.”

Sanchez quickly became the face of the Yankees’ accelerated youth movement, as veterans were phased out in favor of prospects such as Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin, who became the first teammates ever to homer in their first big league plate appearances when they hit back-to-back drives on Aug. 13.

With the majority of the fan base seeming to give their blessing toward the fresh look, manager Joe Girardi’s club responded by going 32-26 after Aug. 1 and played meaningful games into the season’s final week. As difficult as it was to switch course in-season, the Yankees believe they did what was necessary.

“I was like, ‘It’s time,'” general manager Brian Cashman said. “We need to do certain things that we’ve never really done. I’m glad ownership signed off on it, and I think that the future is brighter because of it.”

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