DENVER — Amidst the Yankees’ offensive struggles, Kyle Higashioka has emerged as a productive hitter, earning himself increased playing time. On Saturday, Kyle Higashioka took his place behind the plate for the third consecutive game, forming a battery with Clarke Schmidt for the first time since May 31.
Boone mentioned that Jose Trevino, who had been the catcher for Schmidt’s previous six starts, was in good physical condition and would be behind the plate for Gerrit Cole in the series finale against the Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday.
Although the Yankees appreciate the defensive skills of both catchers, Kyle Higashioka has been delivering more at the plate, particularly in recent games. He boasts a batting average of .308 and an OPS of .800 in his last 26 games.
Kyle Higashioka takes over Trevino
Boone acknowledged that Kyle Higashioka has been displaying a strong batting performance for a considerable time. He highlighted the excellent defensive abilities of both catchers but expressed particular satisfaction with Higashioka’s batting skills. Boone noted that Higashioka has been consistently hitting the ball hard, even if some of those hits resulted in outs.
Boone mentioned that Kyle Higashioka has faced some unfortunate luck in his at-bats, despite which he has managed to achieve decent results.
On the other hand, Trevino has been batting .211 with a .570 OPS so far this season. Boone mentioned that Trevino has been dealing with some minor injuries, which may have impacted his offensive performance compared to the earlier months of last year.
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