TAMPA — After two outstanding months last year, Gary Sanchez was sitting in a seat Thursday that used to belong to Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez at the beginning of spring training.
The interview room is for players who draw a crowd, and there is a lot of interest in the Yankees catcher who hit 20 homers and drove in 42 runs in 53 games and finished second in the AL Rookie of the Year race last season.
At this time last year, Sanchez was about to be beaten out by Austin Romine for the backup catcher’s job. While he has been installed as the starter with Brian McCann in Houston, Sanchez said he isn’t thinking the job is his.
“I’m here this spring training and I think I’m working as if I did not have a guaranteed spot,’’ Sanchez said Thursday through an interpreter. “You never know, so you have to keep working hard.’’