Yankees looking out for old teammate Gary Sanchez: ‘He’s up for the challenge’

There was a time when Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez were two of the most feared power hitters in the game and in the middle of the Yankees lineup.

Now, Judge is in the first year of a nine-year, $360 million contract and Sanchez is fighting to get back into the majors after he signed a minor league deal with the Mets and has gotten off to a strong start with Triple-A Syracuse.

He went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts Friday, but is 5-for-11 with a homer and four strikeouts since debuting with the Syracuse Mets, and Judge is keeping an eye on his former teammate.

“He’s a solid all-around player,” Judge said Friday. “I know he’s had some good games [with Syracuse]. He had his ups and downs with the Yankees, but he was always a good teammate and worked on improving both sides of his game.”

Sanchez’s time in The Bronx ended in March 2022, when he was traded to Minnesota, where he struggled again and was not tendered a contract following the season.

Sanchez signed a minor league deal last month with the Giants, but opted out of it and then signed with the catching-needy Mets.

“He definitely has it in him to be good at this level,’’ DJ LeMahieu said. “He’s still a very talented player and a great guy. It would be cool to see him back in New York.”

LeMahieu recalled his first season with the Yankees in 2019, when Sanchez hit 23 homers in his first 56 games.

“It’s tough to see what he’s going through now, especially after what he did here,’’ LeMahieu said. “He hit so many home runs and had big hits in the playoffs.”

LeMahieu said he was “surprised” Sanchez hadn’t been able to find a major league job yet. Judge agreed.

“It’s a tough business,’’ Judge said. “He’s up for the challenge. I know he wants to be back in the majors and is hungry to help a team.”

Depending on how things play out, that could be in Queens.

“I’ve seen him at his best and when he’s at his best, he’s one of the best hitters in the league,’’ LeMahieu said.

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The Yankees’ left field situation remains ugly, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and his .463 OPS starting there on Friday against the Rays.

Kiner-Falefa, who went 0-for-2 in the Yankees’ 6-5 comeback win over the Rays, has impressed the Bombers with his range in the spacious left field at Yankee Stadium, which is why he was there and Oswaldo Cabrera started at second base, with Gleyber Torres at DH.

Manager Aaron Boone said Aaron Hicks, who left the game Tuesday against the Athletics with a tight hip, was improving.

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Luis Severino is set to make his second minor league rehab start on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset. Boone said the right-hander’s next step following that outing had yet to be determined, but didn’t rule out a return to the major league rotation.

“It’s possible,’’ Boone said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. He looked great the other day and he feels good. Let’s get through Tuesday and then see if we want to do one more [rehab start] or bring him back.”