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Yankees: Examining the Gary Sanchez hate ahead of 2021 season

Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees - (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez is fighting his own fans entering 2021.

It didn’t take long for Gary Sánchez’s career to become controversial. In 2017, as a mere sophomore, he set the record for home runs by a Yankees catcher. He also put up a very good FanGraphs WAR of 4.3.

That was also the year, however, that he gained notoriety after being benched for his defensive shortcomings.

Three-and-a-half years later, the manager who benched him has been replaced by the more forgiving Aaron Boone, Sánchez’s defense continues to be maligned, and his offensive output has taken a dramatic nose dive.