KYLE HIGASHIOKA NEWS

Out of Tuesday's lineup Higashioka is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Higashioka has a .683 OPS through nine games in August and will begin Tuesday's contest in the dugout. Ben Rortvedt will step in behind the plate to catch for Luis Severino.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Atop depth chart again Higashioka is catching and batting ninth for the Yankees on Saturday against Miami, marking the third straight game that he has started behind the plate.

Impact Early in the week it appeared that Higashioka had fallen behind Ben Rortvedt on the depth chart after sitting four times in a span of six games, but that trend has since reversed with the former logging three straight starts at catcher. Higashioka may have helped his case the last time he began a contest on the bench, as he came on as a pinch hitter Aug. 8 against the White Sox and slugged a two-run homer. The veteran added three hits and a pair of RBI in Friday's win over the Marlins, so manager Aaron Boone may be riding the hot bat as the Yankees attempt to move into playoff position. While Higashioka hasn't been great this season with a .235/.274/.390 slash line, seven homers, 30 RBI and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate, Rortvedt is slashing a measly .107/.265/.143 with no homers and one RBI, though he does boast an impressive 17.6 percent walk rate.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Losing work to Rortvedt Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

Impact Higashioka is sitting for the fourth time in six games and may be falling into the weak side of a timeshare at catcher with Ben Rortvedt. Since top backstop Jose Trevino (wrist) went down with a season-ending injury shortly after the All-Star break, Higashioka has produced a .537 OPS while striking out at a 32.4 percent rate over 12 games.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Thursday Higashioka is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Astros.

Impact Ben Rortvedt will get a second straight start at catcher for the Yankees after recording his first major-league hit since May 20 in Wednesday's win over the Rays. Higashioka should still be in line for the bulk of playing time down the stretch.

AUGUST 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Wednesday Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

Impact Ben Rortvedt will start behind the plate and bat ninth after Higashioka went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Tuesday as his season slash line fell to .225/.259/.376. Higashioka should still be the Yankees' primary catcher the rest of the way with Jose Trevino (wrist) officially done for the year.

AUGUST 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Monday Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays.

Impact Ben Rortvedt will get the nod behind the plate while Higashioka rests for the series opener. Higashioka started at catcher in the final two games of the Yankees' series with the Orioles over the weekend, going 4-for-8 with a solo home run and an additional run.

JULY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bursts out of slump Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact After entering Saturday's contest 2-for-24 (.083) in his last 11 appearances, Higashioka delivered a trio of hits, including a solo homer off Cole Irvin in the sixth. The outing was much-needed for Higashioka, who assumed primary catching duties earlier this week with Jose Trevino (wrist) undergoing season-ending surgery but had gone hitless since receiving the starting job. Though Ben Rortvedt could push Higashioka for catching duties if his struggles at the plate continue, Saturday's outing likely earned Higashioka more opportunities to cement himself as the clear No. 1 option.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes over as primary backstop Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Royals.

Impact Higashioka will be making his fourth start in five games and looks poised to serve as the Yankees' top backstop after Jose Trevino was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier in the weekend with a wrist injury that will require season-ending surgery. Over 165 plate appearances this season, Higashioka has hit .227 while providing a modicum of pop (five home runs). Ben Rortvedt will serve as Higashioka's understudy for the time being but could get a look in the No. 1 role if Higashioka's high-strikeout tendencies send his batting average further south.

JULY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Launches fifth homer Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's loss against the Cubs.

Impact Higashioka paired up with Anthony Volpe in the sixth inning for back-to-back home runs, a stretch that resulted in opposing starter Kyle Hendricks getting pulled from the game. Though the long ball was Higashioka's fifth of the season, it was his second in his last four games, a stretch in which he's hitting 6-for-11 (.545).

JULY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep Monday Higashioka went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a double in Monday's 6-3 victory versus the Orioles.

Impact Higashioka followed Anthony Volpe's fifth-inning solo shot with one of his own to help the Yankees rally from an early deficit. The long ball was the backstop's first since May 13, a span of 34 games. Higashioka went deep 10 times in each of the past two seasons but may have trouble reaching that mark this year, as he's tallied just four homers with more than half of the campaign in the rearview mirror.

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees' Kyle Higashioka reacts injuring Red Sox pitcher with liner to face The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox continued their weekend series on Saturday night at Fenway Park.

JUNE 17, 2023 • NJ.COM

Red Sox's Tanner Houck 'got lucky' after being hit in face by liner vs. Yankees

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck went to a hospital and received stitches after he was struck in the face by a line drive on Friday night...

JUNE 17, 2023

Three hits, two doubles in win Higashioka went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Padres.

Impact It's the first multi-hit game of the season who Higashioka, who'd been stuck in a 1-for-18 slump coming into Sunday's contest. The 33-year-old backstop is now slashing .203./259/.380 with three homers and 13 RBI in 85 plate appearances this season. Higashioka should continue to see the majority of starts behind the plate while Jose Trevino (hamstring) is sidelined.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Filling in for injured Trevino Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Impact Higashioka is behind the plate for the fifth time in six games, with his increase in playing time coinciding with top backstop Jose Trevino's recent move to the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring strain. Though Higashioka is capable of popping the occasional home run, his high strikeout rates have made him a batting-average drain throughout his time in the majors. The 33-year-old should be on the fantasy radar only in AL-only leagues or in mixed leagues that start two catchers.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Saturday Higashioka will sit Saturday versus the Reds.

Impact Higashioka will get a day off after he went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored with three strikeouts in Friday's 6-2 win. Ben Rortvedt will make his Yankees debut at catcher and bat ninth against Cincinnati.

MAY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep Saturday Higashioka went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run and a walk against the Rays in a 9-8 victory Saturday.

Impact Higashioka drew the start behind the plate and kicked off a big Yankees comeback with his two-run shot to left field in the fifth inning. It was the third long ball of the season for the backstop, who is working as New York's No. 2 catcher behind Jose Trevino this season. Higashioka is back on the bench to begin Sunday's contest with Trevino starting and batting eighth.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Cranks second homer Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Twins.

Impact The catcher got the Yankees on the board in the second inning, taking Tyler Mahle deep to right-center field for his second homer of the season. Higashioka is batting only .150 (3-for-20) as New York's No. 2 backstop, but he has four RBI in six games.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Germán leads Yankees over Twins 6-1 after sticky stuff flap

Domingo Germán retired his first 16 batters, staying in the game after an extensive sticky substance check by umpires, leading the New York Yankees over the Twins 6-1

APRIL 15, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Swats first homer Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday in a 6-0 win against the Giants.

Impact Higashioka saw action for the first time this season Sunday while Jose Trevino got a breather. The backup backstop took advantage of the opportunity, belting a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning. Higashioka has shown moderate power by hitting 10 homers each of the past two seasons, but he's firmly behind Trevino on the Yankees' catcher depth chart for the time being.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stanton goes deep, Judge also backs Brito as Yanks blank SF

Giancarlo Stanton smashed a titanic home run, Aaron Judge also went deep and Jhony Brito won his major league debut as the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0

APRIL 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wraps uneventful spring Higashioka slashed .200/.333/.467 with a home run, a double, four RBI and a 3:4 BB:K over 19 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

Impact Higashioka was one of the big stories of spring training in 2022, when he led all players with seven long balls. That performance didn't quite carry over into the regular season, though the backstop did tie his career high with 10 homers over 248 plate appearances. Higashioka is expected to serve as New York's No. 2 catcher behind Jose Trevino this season.

MARCH 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

How Yankees' Carlos Rodon wowed Kyle Higashioka in live BP Yankees pitchers and catchers went through a spring training workout on Friday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023 • NJ.COM

Yankees' Kyle Higashioka talks Oswald Peraza excitement, Carlos Rodón anticipation, more "We’ve definitely gotten better this offseason," says the veteran Yankees catcher, who also discussed the return of his friend, Aaron Judge.

JANUARY 30, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Reaches deal without arbitration Higashioka and the Yankees avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year deal.

Impact Higashioka homered 10 times in 248 plate appearances last season, but his .227/.264/.389 slash line was good for just an 83 wRC+. He'll enter the 2023 season as Jose Trevino's backup behind the plate.

JANUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Torres swaps with Yankees; Cortes, Holmes among 9 deals

Gleyber Torres remained headed toward a salary arbitration hearing with the New York Yankees while nine teammates reached one-year agreements Friday, including All-Star pitchers Ne...

JANUARY 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS