Gary Sanchez’s put together a successful encore in his second game as a Syracuse Met.
Sanchez, the one-time Yankee who is looking to resurrect his major league career, belted a solo home run and went 2-for-3 in Triple-A Syracuse’s 6-5 loss to the host Buffalo Bisons on Thursday.
In the top of the second inning, Sanchez, who signed a minor-league deal with the Mets earlier in the week, led off the frame with a long homer over the left-field wall.
The 30-year-old catcher, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his debut on Wednesday, is batting .571 in his two games with Syracuse.
He is 4-for-7 and has reached base nine times, also drawing two walks in his first two games.
Sanchez spent seven seasons with the Yankees before he and Gio Ursela were traded to the Minnesota Twins for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt in 2022.
Sanchez’s slash line with Minnesota was .205/.282/.377 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games, but it wasn’t enough for the Twins to tender him a contract in the offseason.
Sanchez recently had a stint with the Giants, but it didn’t turn out as he hoped, and he now comes to the Mets seeking another opportunity to jump-start his career.
Sanchez, who was known as the Kraken when he first burst onto the scene with the Yankees, spent seven seasons in New York since 2015 where he earned two All-Star nods and a Silver Slugger award in 2017.
His career slash line with the Yankees was .230/.318/.487 with 138 home runs and 340 RBIs.
Despite his quick start at Syracuse, Sanchez likely will have to keep hitting to have any chance to crack the Mets’ big-league roster.
That’s because rookie Francisco Alvarez — who went 2-for-3 in the Mets’ 5-0 loss to the Reds on Thursday — is beginning to find his groove offensively and signs are pointing that he will now be the team’s starting catcher.
Plus, Tomas Nido, who was placed on the injured list due to dry eye syndrome, will fill the backup catching slot and is respected for his defensive prowess and calling games.
Sanchez will receive $1.5 million if he plays in the major leagues with the Mets with up to $1.2 million in potential incentives.