Kyle Higashioka
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 30 2025Higashioka went 0-for-5 with two runs scored in Sunday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka never reached base safely but managed to score two runs as the automatic runner in the 10th and 12th innings. June hasn't been kind to Higashioka, who is batting .167 after posting a .194 average during May. He parlayed a good stretch in San Diego last season into a two-year deal with the Rangers during the offseason, but Higashioka has not delivered while splitting the catching duties with Jonah Heim.
Jun 10 2025Higashioka went 2-for-5 with a double, five RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 16-4 victory over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The five RBI established a season high, which doubled Higashioka's entire output on the season entering Tuesday to now give him 15 for the campaign. The 35-year-old slugging backstop is now slashing .233/.282/.320 with one homer, six doubles and nine runs scored across 110 plate appearances. The door is open for Higashioka to claim more playing time behind the dish, with Jonah Heim having gone 4-for-40 over his last 13 outings.
Jun 4 2025Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he's on the bench Wednesday, Higashioka seems to have at least moved into a timeshare with Jonah Heim behind the dish. Over the last six games, Higashioka started five times (four at catcher, one at designated hitter), while Heim was included in the lineup three times during that stretch. Heim (.659 OPS) has still been more productive at the plate than Higashioka (.599 OPS), so the latter will likely need to string together some more quality offensive performances before emerging as the clear No. 1 option.
Jun 1 2025Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jonah Heim is back behind the plate Sunday, but he's gone 2-for-23 with no walks and 10 strikeouts over his last eight games and seems to be losing his grip on the Rangers' No. 1 backstop job. Higashioka had started the previous four games -- three at catcher, one at designated hitter -- and went 3-for-11 during that stretch to bring his batting average up to .233 on the season. Though he'll be out of the lineup for the series finale, Higashioka may have at least moved into a timeshare with Heim at catcher.
May 30 2025Higashioka went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk in Friday's 11-1 win over St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was Higashioka's first multi-hit game in 11 outings this month, and he scored a season-high three runs as part of the Rangers' offensive outburst. The veteran backstop remains a without a home run in his last 17 contests (51 at-bats), during which he's batting just .216 with two doubles, five RBI and six runs scored. Even so, Higashioka has a clearer pathway to action as the designated hitter while Joc Pederson nurses a broken hand, as the former has started four of Texas' past five games since the latter went down.
May 13 2025The Rangers activated Higashioka (intercostal) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has been out for all of May with a mild left intercostal strain but is ready to go after playing in two rehab games. Tucker Barnhart remains on the roster, so the Rangers will carry three catchers for the time being.
May 12 2025Higashioka (ribs) played five innings at catcher and went 1-for-3 with a double in a rehab game with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka began a rehab assignment this weekend at Round Rock, initially getting five at-bats as the designated hitter Saturday before making his first start behind the plate Sunday. He'll likely come off the Rangers' 10-day injured list at some point during the upcoming week and will supplant Tucker Barnhart as the team's No. 2 catcher.
May 10 2025Higashioka (ribs) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has been sidelined since May 1 with an intercostal strain. He won't return after the minimum 10 days as originally anticipated, but he should be very close to activation.
May 1 2025The Rangers placed Higashioka on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a mild left intercostal strain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Texas had previously indicated Wednesday that Higashioka was dealing with hamstring soreness, but after further evaluation, the veteran backstop was revealed to be dealing with an injury to the upper half of his body. Manager Bruce Bochy does not expect Higashioka to be sidelined beyond the minimum 10 days, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. Higashioka had been working in a timeshare behind the plate with Jonah Heim for much of the season, but Heim should see the overwhelming share of starts at catcher while Higashioka is out.
Apr 30 2025Higashioka reported tightness in his hamstring and is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rangers are going to hold off on placing Higashioka on the injured list for now, but he may need to be deactivated if his condition doesn't improve after a few days of rest. Tucker Barnhart was added to the active roster from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday to give Texas another option behind the plate while Higashioka recovers.
Apr 19 2025Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka put the Rangers on the board in the third winning with a two-run shot off Roki Sasaki. It was Higashioka's first home run of 2025, and he's started the season slashing .278/.316/.444 with two walks, two runs scored and five RBI over 38 plate appearances this season.
Apr 5 2025Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka knocked in the first of four runs the Rangers scored in the third inning. He has taken on an equitable share of the catching position alongside Jonah Heim. Each player has started four games. Higashioka is batting .250 (3-for-12) with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored so far this season.
Mar 28 2025Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Friday's game versus the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was behind the dish for Thursday's opener and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double, but he will yield to Jonah Heim for the second game of the series. The catching duties for the Rangers are likely to be split fairly evenly between the two players this season.
Mar 27 2025Higashioka started at catcher and went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka got the call behind the plate against a left-hander ahead of primary backstop Jonah Heim. The Rangers are expected to have a relatively even split at catcher, so this may not be a strict platoon based on the the handedness of the opponent's starter. Higashioka has hit double-digit home runs in four consecutive seasons while never getting more than 246 at-bats on any one season.
Mar 1 2025Higashioka went 2-for-2 with two home runs and six RBI in Friday's spring game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka belted a two-run homer in the second inning, produced a run on sacrifice fly in the fourth and then launched a three-run shot in the sixth. He blipped the fantasy radar in 2024 when the right-handed hitter knocked 17 home runs in 84 games for the Padres. The catcher's also drawn reviews this spring for his handling of the pitching staff, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. The Rangers are expected to have a relatively even split behind the plate between Higashioka and Jonah Heim, who had some alarming drops in advanced metrics last season and is no stranger to second-half fades.
Dec 3 2024Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Higashioka and Jonah Heim will split time at catcher in 2025, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Texas announced the signing of Higashioka to a two-year, $13.5 million contract on Monday. The 34-year-old is coming off the best offensive season of his career, having posted a .739 OPS with 17 home runs over 84 games with the Padres. Higashioka's 263 plate appearances in 2024 were a career high, but it sounds like he'll have a good shot to eclipse that total in 2025.
Dec 2 2024Higashioka signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with Texas on Monday, which includes a $7 million mutual option for 2027. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will add a veteran presence to the backstop position for Texas and is likely to share the workload with Jonah Heim, who struggled during the 2024 campaign. Higashioka is coming off one of his most productive seasons at the plate, swatting a career-high 17 home runs and recording 45 RBI in 84 games for the Padres.
Sep 29 2024Higashioka is absent from Sunday's lineup against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Elias Diaz will serve behind home plate and bat seventh in Sunday's regular-season finale. Unless he comes in to pinch hit, Higashioka will end the regular season slashing .220/.263/.476 with 17 home runs and 45 RBI over 2673 plate appearances.
Sep 28 2024Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka opened the scoring when he took AJ Puk deep in the ninth inning. This was Higashioka's first homer in a month, and he's had a poor September by batting just .174 over 17 contests. For the season, the catcher has a .220/.263/.476 slash line with 17 homers, 45 RBI, 29 runs scored and two stolen bases over a career-high 263 plate appearances.
Sep 25 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's single in Tuesday's win broke an 0-for-11 stretch at the plate, and he'll now get a chance to rest while Elias Diaz catches for Dylan Cease.
Sep 21 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-9 over his last four games, Higashioka will give way to Elias Diaz behind the plate Saturday.
Sep 18 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll take a seat for the series finale after picking up starts behind the plate Monday and Tuesday. Elias Diaz will handle catching duties Wednesday in Higashioka's stead.
Sep 15 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will receive a breather in the series finale after he had started at catcher in four the Padres' previous five games. Elias Diaz will step in behind the plate for San Diego.
Sep 7 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will take a seat Saturday against Logan Webb and the Giants. In his place, Luis Campusano will catch and bat seventh.
Sep 5 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will receive a second consecutive day to rest Thursday while Elias Diaz catches for Martin Perez and bats eighth.
Sep 4 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored during Tuesday's win, Higashioka will give way to Luis Campusano behind the plate Wednesday.
Sep 2 2024Higashioka (illness) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Monday's game versus the Tigers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka missed the previous two contests because he was under the weather. However, he's feeling well enough to give it a go in the series opener Monday.
Sep 1 2024Higashioka (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was scratched from the lineup Saturday due to flu-like symptoms, and he'll sit Sunday for a second straight game. Luis Campusano will receive another start behind the plate in the series finale.
Aug 31 2024Higashioka was scratched from the Padres' lineup ahead of Saturday's game versus Tampa Bay due to flu-like symptoms. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has tallied a base hit each of his last two games -- including a solo home run Wednesday -- but he'll be forced to sit out Saturday as he fights off an illness. Luis Campusano will fill in as the Friars' backstop and bat eighth.
Aug 30 2024Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Friday's game in Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll receive a day of rest after catching three of the previous four contests for the Padres. Luis Campusano will be behind the dish for the series opener versus the Rays.
Aug 28 2024Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has two homers over his last five games, and he's hit four long balls while batting .224 over 17 contests in August. The catcher is up to 16 homers in just 66 games this season. He's added a .228/.275/.518 slash line with 43 RBI, 26 runs scored and one stolen base over 212 plate appearances. Higashioka is likely to continue sharing the catching duties with Luis Campusano, though a hot stretch at the plate for either backstop could lead to a corresponding uptick in playing time.
Aug 23 2024Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an RBI double and two total runs scored in Friday's 7-0 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Over his previous nine games, Higashioka had gone just 3-for-24 (.125) with two RBI. The catcher made a bigger impact in this series-opening game, hitting his homer in the second inning and plating another run in the third with his second double in three contests. Higashioka is up to a .226/.271/.516 slash line with 15 homers, seven doubles, 42 RBI, 24 runs scored and one stolen base over 200 plate appearances this season.
Aug 22 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will get a chance to regroup Thursday after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts during Wednesday's contest. Luis Campusano will instead catch for right-hander Dylan Cease and bat eighth.
Aug 17 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has one hit in his last 14 at-bats and will get the night off Saturday to clear his head. In his place, Luis Campusano will bat eighth and catch.
Aug 14 2024Higashioka is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Pirates, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports, ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka caught both of the first two games of the series, but he'll begin Wednesday's finale on the bench. Luis Campusano and Martin Perez will form the Padres' battery.
Aug 11 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in Saturday's contest but will take a seat for the series finale in Miami. Luis Campusano is starting behind the plate and batting ninth Sunday.
Aug 9 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After catching back-to-back games, Higashioka will yield to Luis Campusano behind the dish Friday. During those two starts, Higashioka went 2-for-7 with a three-run homer and a stolen base.
Aug 8 2024Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in a 9-8 extra-inning win against the Pirates on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka gave San Diego its first lead when he slammed a three-run shot to center field in the fourth inning. The long ball was the backstop's 14th of the campaign, four more than the career high of 10 he had established in three consecutive campaigns coming into 2024. Higashioka's trio of RBI on Wednesday also pushed him to a career-high mark with 37 on the season.
Aug 6 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka and Luis Campusano have been alternating starts at catcher over the last six games, with each receiving three starts. Higashioka has a career-high 13 homers this season and an .800 OPS across 164 plate appearances.
Aug 5 2024Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka pushed the Padres in front for good with a solo blast off Cal Quantrill in the fifth inning for his 13th home run of the year. It's the fourth straight season the 34-year-old has reached 10-plus home runs and he's now tied his career-high with 34 RBI. Higashioka also has registered at least a hit in eight of his last nine starts, slashing .300/.344/.567 with seven RBI over that span.
Aug 3 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Saturday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's brief three-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-3 performance Friday, and he'll now take a seat while Luis Campusano catches for Martin Perez.
Jul 31 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will pick up some rest after he started at catcher in each of the Friars' last three games. Luis Campusano will step in for Higashioka behind the plate while batting eighth.
Jul 26 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka is absent from the starting lineup for a second straight contest, yielding to Luis Campusano behind the dish. Higashioka has gone 5-for-15 with two doubles and a homer since the All-Star break.
Jul 25 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres and Nationals are wrapping up their series with a day game, so Higashioka will get a breather after he caught nine innings while going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBI in Wednesday night's 12-3 win. Luis Campusano will step in for Higashioka behind the plate.
Jul 24 2024Higashioka went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and an RBI double in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka had gone just 2-for-16 over his previous five contests before getting in on the heavy-hitting fun the Padres' offense enjoyed in this game. The catcher has homered 12 times this season, with six of them coming over his last 14 games. He's up to a .226/.269/.540 slash line with 32 RBI, 17 runs scored, five doubles, one triple and no stolen bases across 145 plate appearances. Higashioka's recent success in the power department has helped him see a majority of the starts at catcher in July, relegating Luis Campusano to the backup role.
Jul 20 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Saturday's game against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka went 0-for-2 with a walk during Friday's loss, and he'll now get a day to regroup after being held hitless in each of his last three games. Luis Campusano will take over behind the plate and bat ninth.
Jul 10 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he's on the bench Wednesday, Higashioka looks to have moved ahead of both Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan in the pecking order at catcher. Higashioka had already been seeing the majority of the starts behind the plate over Sullivan while Campusano was on the injured list, but since being activated Friday, Campusano has cracked the lineup just once in five games. Meanwhile, Higashioka has continued to rake at the plate to make a case for the lion's share of the playing time at catcher. Dating back to June 22, Higashioka has slashed .342/.375/.842 with six home runs, 17 RBI and eight runs over a stretch of 11 games.
Jul 7 2024Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Luis Campusano was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Higashioka started behind the plate in the Padres' first two games of the series with Arizona. Higashioka will take a seat for Sunday's day game, but his usage earlier in the week could indicate that he'll retain the No. 1 job ahead of Campusano, even though the latter player is now healthy. Over his last 12 games, Higashioka has hit .310 with seven extra-base hits (five home runs, one triple, one double) and three walks.
Jul 5 2024Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 10-8 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has launched five of his 10 homers this season over his last nine games. He went deep in the sixth inning of this contest to stretch the Padres' lead to 7-2. The catcher is at a .220/.254/.541 slash line with 25 RBI, 15 runs scored, three doubles and a triple over 114 plate appearances. Higashioka's playing time is likely to decrease with Luis Campusano (thumb) getting activated from the injured list Friday, but the former played well enough in the latter's absence to justify a timeshare role behind the dish.
Jun 29 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Saturday's game against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres will give Higashioka a day off Saturday after he belted a two-run homer during Friday's win. In his place, Brett Sullivan will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Jun 28 2024Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Friday's 9-2 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All nine of the Padres' runs came in an incredible fifth inning that saw them bat around before recording an out, and Higashioka got the offensive eruption started by crushing a Nick Pivetta sweeper over the Green Monster. The veteran backstop is having the best month of his career in June, batting .292 (14-for-48) over 16 games with an eye-popping eight homers and 19 RBI -- his career high in homers for a season is only 10. Luis Campusano (thumb) is expected back off the IL in early July, but he will have a hard time wresting significant playing time back from Higashioka given the latter's current form.
Jun 26 2024Higashioka went 3-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI in Wednesday's 8-5 win against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka drove in all but two of San Diego's eight runs. He swatted a two-run homer to kick off the scoring in the second inning and capped his offensive outburst with a grand slam in the eighth. The grand slam was the first of Higashioka's career, while the multi-homer effort was his fifth as a big-leaguer. He's hitting only .207 on the season but has otherwise provided good production with eight homers and 20 RBI in 32 games.
Jun 23 2024Higashioka isn't in the Padres' lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After hitting a two-run home run en route to a win Saturday, Higashioka will take a seat for Sunday's series finale while Brett Sullivan gets the nod behind home plate.
Jun 20 2024Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in a 5-2 win against Philadelphia on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's bases-loaded triple in the eighth inning provided the winning margin for San Diego in the road victory. It was the first three-bagger of the catcher's career. Higashioka has just one hit over his past 12 at-bats, but prior to that he homered in three straight games, and he has racked up seven RBI through 10 games in June.
Jun 11 2024Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka came up clutch, taking Scott Alexander deep for a walk-off homer in the ninth inning. This was Higashioka's fourth homer in his last five games, all of which have been of the solo variety. The catcher is up to a .188/.212/.453 slash line with five long balls, seven RBI and seven runs scored across 66 plate appearances. He could continue to challenge Luis Campusano for playing time, but Higashioka is more likely to remain in a backup role.
Jun 8 2024Higashioka went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 13-1 win over the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has hit three homers over four games in June. His increased success at the plate has seen him split the starts at catcher with Luis Campusano, who should still be considered the Padres' primary backstop. Through 62 plate appearances this year, Higashioka is slashing .180/.194/.410 with four long balls, six RBI and six runs scored. His OPS was as low as .377 on May 26, but it's up to .604 now thanks to his increased display of power.
Jun 6 2024Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka got the Padres on the board in the fifth inning with his solo shot. This was his second homer over three games in June after he hit just one long ball over the first two months of the season. The backup catcher is at a .161/.175/.357 slash line with five RBI, four runs scored and two doubles across 57 plate appearances. Higashioka is unlikely to see much playing time as long as Luis Campusano is healthy.
Jun 2 2024Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday in a 7-3 victory versus the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka padded San Diego's lead in the ninth inning with a solo shot to left field. It was just his second homer this season after he belted exactly 10 long balls in each of the past three seasons while with the Yankees. Higashioka's playing time has fallen as a member of the Padres -- he has just 52 plate appearances so far this season. The backup catcher is slashing a paltry .157/.173/.314, though four of his eight hits have gone for extra bases.
Apr 3 2024Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka made his second start of the campaign -- filling in for Luis Campusano, who got the night off -- and delivered his first long ball of the season. The homer just so happened to be his first, and still his only, hit after going 0-for-4 in his first outing. Considering Campusano has a very clear hold on catcher duties, Higashioka should generally remain outside of fantasy consideration.
Jan 11 2024Higashioka signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka joined the Padres as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in December. Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 34 RBI across 242 plate appearances last season, and he seems destined for a backup role behind Luis Campusano with the Padres.
Dec 6 2023The Yankees traded Higashioka to San Diego on Wednesday alongside Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 10 homers and 34 RBI across 260 plate appearances last season -- his best season at the plate since 2020. However, with Luis Campusano virtually locked in as San Diego's main backstop, the 33-year-old Higashioka will have to compete with Brett Sullivan for a backup role.
Sep 3 2023Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt had largely been operating in a timeshare at catcher since the All-Star break, but both backstops are likely to see their opportunities take hits down the stretch after the Yankees called up catching prospect Austin Wells from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Wells is making his third straight start behind the dish Sunday and should see the majority of the starts behind the dish for the rest of the season.
Aug 30 2023Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday at Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka slugged a solo home run in the Yankees' defeat of the Tigers on Tuesday, but he'll take a seat Wednesday as Ben Rortvedt handles the catching duties for New York. Higashioka had made three straight starts behind the plate.
Aug 28 2023Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka and DJ LeMahieu hit back-to-back-back jacks off Zack Littell in the third inning. In his age-33 season, Higashioka has tallied a career-high 32 RBI and is just two home runs away from a new best mark in that category. For the year, he's slashing .231/.269/.404 with nine homers, 21 runs scored and a 12:60 BB:K in 224 plate appearances.
Aug 21 2023Higashioka went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's loss to Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka got the start behind the dish and put the Yankees on the board with his third-inning, game-tying solo shot. The Yankees don't seem to have committed to either Higashioka or Ben Rortvedt as their primary catcher, as they've both seen spurts of starts followed by consecutive contests on the bench recently. Between the pair, Higashioka is putting up better offensive numbers in August, slashing .250/.323/.464 with two homers and seven RBI compared to Rortvedt's .077/.200/.192 slash that includes one homer and just one RBI.
Aug 19 2023Higashioka finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games Saturday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has started just two of the last six games, though that follows a stretch in which he started three straight. His .230/.267/.378 isn't exactly starting catcher material, so he'll likely continue to split time with Ben Rortvedt down the stretch with Jose Trevino (wrist) done for the year.
Aug 15 2023Higashioka is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 12 2023Higashioka is catching and batting ninth for the Yankees on Saturday against Miami, marking the third straight game that he has started behind the plate. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 7 2023Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 3 2023Higashioka is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Aug 2 2023Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 31 2023Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 29 2023Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 8-3 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 23 2023Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jul 9 2023Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's loss against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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).
Jul 3 2023Higashioka went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and a double in Monday's 6-3 victory versus the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
May 28 2023Higashioka went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first multi-hit game of the season for 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, though Trevino could return as soon as Tuesday against Seattle.
May 24 2023Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 20 2023Higashioka will sit Saturday versus the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 14 2023Higashioka went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run and a walk against the Rays in a 9-8 victory Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Apr 3 2023Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday in a 6-0 win against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Mar 29 2023Higashioka slashed .200/.333/.467 with a home run, a double, four RBI and a 3:4 BB:K over 19 Grapefruit League plate appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Jan 14 2023Higashioka and the Yankees avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year deal. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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.
Oct 1 2022Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's victory over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashikoka recorded hits in each of his first three at-bats, including a solo homer off Austin Voth in the second inning to extend New York's lead. The backstop has now collected three hits in two of his last three games and his hitting .462 over that short stretch.
Sep 28 2022Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a double and scored two runs in Tuesday's 5-2 victory versus the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka scored New York's first run after leading off the third inning with a single, and he crossed the plate again in the sixth following a one-out double. The backstop continues to rank behind Jose Trevino on the depth chart, but Higashioka has taken advantage of his opportunities of late, going 6-for-13 with two doubles, three runs and four RBI over his past four contests. He's slashing .214/.252/.362 over 228 plate appearances on the season.
Sep 10 2022Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to attempt a comeback, but it would not be enough as the Yankees would lose by two. The home run was Higashioka's eighth of the season in limited time. Although he has an unimpressive .205 batting average, something seems to be clicking for the catcher over his last four games. He has gone 5-for-12 (.417) and raised his average by 12 points during that span.
Aug 4 2022Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Yankees weren't able to muster much offense in the contest, so Higashioka's seventh-inning two-run shot made only a small dent in a big Seattle lead. Nonetheless, it was a positive development for the catcher, whose previous homer came nearly a month ago. Higashioka has six long balls on the season, four of which came during a four-game stretch in mid-June.
Jul 7 2022Higashioka went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 16-0 win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka homered in the seventh inning, bringing New York's lead to 5-0. He came around to score in the next inning on Aaron Judge's grand slam, then knocked in Josh Donaldson for the final score of the game in the ninth inning. This was the catcher's second appearance in July. He picked up his first hits since June 21. Higashioka raised his batting average 10 points thanks to the two-hit performance, taking it to .174 on the year.
Jun 20 2022Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to Toronto on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka hit one of five New York homers in the contest, swatting a 426-foot solo shot in the sixth inning. The backstop didn't go deep in any of his first 34 contests this season but has since left the yard in three of his past four games. Over that stretch, he is batting .313 (5-for-16) with four homers, seven RBI and five runs.
Jun 16 2022Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer during Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's three-run homer off Rays starter Shane McClanahan ended up being the difference during Wednesday's win. After not hitting a home run over his first 34 games, the backup catcher has three homers and five RBI over his last two appearances. Higashioka is still slashing just .177/.229/.313, but he's certainly trending in the right direction.
Jun 12 2022Higashioka went 3-for-5 with two homers and three runs in Sunday's 18-4 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka didn't homer in any of his first 34 games of the season, but he homered in the third and eighth innings during Sunday's rout. The 32-year-old has alternated starts behind the dish recently and has hit .200 with two homers, four runs and two RBI over seven games since the start of June.
May 24 2022Higashioka was activated off the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was out for the last two games due to flu-like symptoms but reportedly tested negative for the virus. He's good to go now, but it will be Jose Trevino who starts behind the plate Tuesday against Baltimore.
May 22 2022Higashioka (undisclosed) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will now step away from the team until he clears the league's testing protocols. Rob Brantly will join the big-league roster in a corresponding move and could start Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader since Jose Trevino is behind the plate for the matinee.
May 15 2022Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka and Jose Trevino have alternated starts over the past six games, and that trend will continue Sunday after Higashioka went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and a strikeout during Saturday's 3-2 loss to Chicago.
May 13 2022Higashioka will sit Friday against the White Sox, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka started five of the first six games of the season behind the dish for the Yankees, but he and Jose Trevino have split time exactly evenly since then, each starting 13 times. Trevino will be the starting backstop Friday, catching for Gerrit Cole.
May 11 2022Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will hit the bench for the day game after a night game, allowing Jose Trevino to pick up a turn behind the dish. In Tuesday's 6-5 loss, Higashioka started at catcher and went 0-for-2, dropping his season average to .140.
May 9 2022Higashioka isn't starting Monday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will be out of the lineup for the second straight game after sitting Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Rangers. The 32-year-old has struggled to a .146 batting average this season with just three extra-base hits over 48 at-bats. Jose Trevino will get the start behind the plate and bat ninth Monday.
May 8 2022Higashioka is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Higashioka will take a seat for the nightcap after catching all nine innings and going 0-for-2 at the plate in the Yankees' 2-1 win in the afternoon contest. Jose Trevino will catch for starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery in Game 2.
May 3 2022Higashioka is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After picking up three starts in a four-game stretch to close out the weekend, Higashioka now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row. The Yankees are expected to ride the hotter bat between Higashioka and Jose Trevino at catcher, though neither is doing much to separate himself from the other. Higashioka owns a .386 OPS on the season, while Trevino's mark sits at a similarly feeble .463.
May 2 2022Higashioka isn't starting Monday against Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka went 0-for-2 in Sunday's win over the Royals, and he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Jose Trevino will start at catcher and bat ninth.
Apr 30 2022HIgashioka went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI in Friday's 12-2 win over Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's lone hit of the game was a big one, as it cleared the bases and gave New York a 10-run lead. The double was a much-needed knock for the backstop, who had previously registered only one extra-base hit and one RBI all season. Higashioka had a great spring but is slashing just .143/.213/.190 through 48 regular-season plate appearances.
Apr 24 2022Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly during Saturday's matchup with Cleveland but will head to the bench Sunday for the third time in the past four games. Jose Trevino will receive another start behind the plate for the Yankees.
Apr 22 2022Higashioka will sit Friday against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka sits for the second straight game, marking the first time he's been on the bench for back-to-back games this season. His .097/.125/.129 slash line suggests that he could find himself on the bench more often going forward. Jose Trevino remains the starter behind the plate.
Apr 21 2022Higashioka is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .097 with zero home runs and a 7:1 K:BB in 10 games. Jose Trevino will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Apr 16 2022Higashioka is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka started five of the first six games behind the plate but has now been on the bench for two of the last three. Jose Trevino will start in his absence.
Apr 14 2022Higashioka will sit Thursday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka looks like the clear primary catcher for the Yankees at the moment, as he'd started five of the first six games prior to Thursday's contest. He hasn't done much with those opportunities, going 1-for-18 at the plate. Jose Trevino will replace him behind the plate.
Apr 10 2022Higashioka is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will receive a rest day for the series finale after going 1-for-7 with two strikeouts over the first two games of the season. Jose Trevino will work behind the plate in his place Sunday.
Apr 3 2022Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in a Grapefruit League win over Atlanta on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backstop slugged a two-run homer in the third inning and followed with a solo shot in the fifth. With seven long balls in just nine games, Higashioka has gone deep more than any other player this spring. He's also slashing .478/.500/1.391 and has knocked in 11 runs. Higashioka was initially expected to split time behind the plate with Ben Rortvedt (oblique), but with the latter expected to begin the campaign on the injured list and Higashioka swinging the bat so well, he could get an opportunity to lock down a larger share of playing time if he's able to extend the hot hitting into the regular season.
Mar 28 2022Higashioka is slashing .500/.538/1.250 with three home runs, four RBI and four runs scored over 13 Grapefruit League plate appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka entered camp expecting to work in a platoon with Ben Rortvedt behind the plate, but Rortvedt has yet to get into a contest due to an oblique injury. Higashioka has seized upon the opportunity with a power-packed spring performance that includes a team-best three homers. If Rortvedt is unable to get ramped up in time for Opening Day, Higashioka would likely open the campaign as the team's everyday catcher. However, a platoon remains the most likely scenario for the bulk of the season, especially considering Higashioka's tepid .181/.246/.389 slash line over 67 games for the Yankees last season.
Mar 22 2022Higashioka and the Yankees agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $935,000 contract to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka is projected to fill the short side of a catching platoon in 2022 with the lefty-hitting Ben Rortvedt, whom the Yankees acquired earlier this month in the deal that sent fellow backstop Gary Sanchez to Minnesota. Rortvedt is currently tending to a Grade 1 oblique strain that could keep him on the shelf to begin the season, so Higashioka may enjoy a brief run of steady starts in April. Higashioka logged 211 plate appearances over 67 games in 2021, hitting a mere .181 but providing solid power numbers (10 home runs, 29 RBI).
Mar 19 2022Higashioka has a chance to begin the regular season as the Yankees' primary catcher since Ben Rortvedt is dealing with a Grade 1 oblique strain, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was expected to compete for playing time behind the dish during spring training, but it appeared likely that he'd begin the regular season in the short side of a platoon. However, Rortvedt will be shut down from hitting for five days after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain Saturday, and manager Aaron Boone expressed concern regarding Rortvedt's availability for Opening Day. Even if Rortvedt avoids a trip to the injured list to begin the year, Higashioka could still see the majority of the playing time behind the dish early on if the Yankees exercise caution to prevent a more serious injury for Rortvedt.
Mar 13 2022Higashioka will likely begin the 2022 campaign in the short side of a platoon after the Yankees acquired Ben Rortvedt from the Twins on Sunday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will no longer have to compete for playing time with Gary Sanchez after he was dealt to the Twins as part of Sunday's trade, but he'll gain increased competition at catcher from Rortvedt, who saw his first taste of major-league action in 2021 and appeared in 39 games behind Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers. Neither backstop has been particularly productive while splitting time early in their careers, so it's possible that one of them could shift into a primary role behind the plate if they perform well early in 2022.
Oct 4 2021Higashioka will start Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game against the Red Sox, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will draw the start in Tuesday's winner-take-all contest with Gerrit Cole on the mound for the Yankees. The 31-year-old went 1-for-10 with two RBI and four strikeouts across his final three appearances of the regular season.
Sep 11 2021Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka took Taijuan Walker deep for a two-run homer in the second inning. It was the first of three Yankees' home runs that inning. The catcher has started just six games since Aug. 19, but he homered in three of them. He is slashing .178/.254/.411 with 10 long balls, 24 RBI and 20 runs scored in 181 plate appearances.
Aug 28 2021Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in an 8-2 win over Oakland on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The backstop made his first start since Aug. 21 and pounded his second homer in his past three games. It has largely been a frustrating campaign for Higashioka, however, as he is slashing just .184/.256/.414 overall.
Aug 19 2021Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka slammed a two-run homer off Danny Coulombe in the fourth inning. In addition, he drove in Andrew Velazquez on a double in the third inning. The catcher is back to splitting time behind the plate with teammate Gary Sanchez (illness) after Sanchez returned August 17. Higashioka is slashing just .181/.256/.403 with eight long balls, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 160 plate appearances.
Aug 17 2021Higashioka is on the bench for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will likely be behind the plate for the nightcap, but his run as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher is over after top backstop Gary Sanchez (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to the twin bill. While starting in 10 of the Yankees' past 12 games, Higashioka went 4-for-39 with a home run, five RBI and two additional runs.
Aug 11 2021Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has taken over as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher since Gary Sanchez (illness) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Aug. 5, starting six of the past seven contests while going 4-for-24 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI and three runs. He'll just be getting a breather due to the quick turnaround for the series finale, with opening pitch set for 2:10 p.m. ET. Rob Brantly will catch for starting pitcher Lucas Luetge on Wednesday.
Aug 7 2021Higashioka isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old had started the last three games while filling in for Gary Sanchez, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday. Higashioka will serve as the primary catcher in Sanchez's absence, but Rob Brantly will draw the start behind the dish and bat ninth Saturday.
Aug 5 2021Higashioka will start at catcher and bat eighth Thursday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second straight day, Higashioka will be starting at catcher in place of Gary Sanchez, who was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday after testing positive for the coronavirus. Assuming Sanchez's positive result is confirmed by a lab-based test, he'll be sidelined for at least 10 days, giving Higashioka a week-and-a-half-long run as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher. Higashioka, who tested positive for the virus himself coming out of the All-Star break, is batting .196 with six home runs and 12 RBI across 114 plate appearances on the season.
Jul 27 2021Higashioka (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka is joined by Aaron Judge in being activated from the COVID-19 IL on Tuesday. Both players had positive tests confirmed July 16, but both will return to the active roster shortly after ending their quarantine periods. Higashioka figures to resume serving as the backup catcher behind Gary Sanchez going forward.
Jul 22 2021Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Higashioka (illness) could be ready to rejoin the team and return to action early next week for New York's series in Tampa Bay, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Both Aaron Judge and Higashioka appear to be on similar timelines to return from the COVID-19 injured list after the two were deactivated when they tested positive for the virus coming out of the All-Star break. Once reinstated from the IL, Higashioka will settle in as the No. 2 catcher behind Gary Sanchez.
Jul 16 2021Higashioka tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was placed in the COVID-19 protocols Thursday while awaiting the test results, and he's one of six Yankees who have tested positive for the virus. He'll be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. The Yankees will need to add another catcher to the roster to serve as the backup to Gary Sanchez behind the plate.
Jul 15 2021Higashioka has been placed in the league's COVID-19 protocols while he awaits a confirmation of a positive test for the virus, Buster Olney of ESPN ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka is one of three Yankees who reportedly received a positive test for COVID-19, but the Yankees are awaiting a second test to make sure that the initial result isn't a false positive. If his positive test is confirmed, the catcher will be away from the team at least 10 days.
Jun 22 2021Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Tuesday's loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka took Brady Singer deep in the second inning, his first long ball since May 8. The 31-year-old backup catcher now has six long balls on the season while batting .191/.273/.438 across 34 games.
May 25 2021Higashioka went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka got the start at catcher with Gary Sanchez operating as the designated hitter Tuesday, and the backstop made his presence felt with his first multi-hit outing of the month. The 31-year-old veteran is only hitting .200, though, and he's expected to remain as the team's main backup at catcher until further notice.
May 23 2021Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka appeared to have leapfrogged Gary Sanchez on the Yankees' catching depth chart in late April, but based on how the starts have been doled out of late, Higashioka seems to have faded back into a No.2 role. The 31-year-old will be on the bench for the third time in four games with Sanchez having shown some improvement at the dish of late. After posting a .639 OPS in April, Sanchez is up to a .726 mark thus far in May.
May 21 2021Higashioka is out of the lineup Friday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka finds himself on the bench for the second straight day, while Gary Sanchez has now started five of the past seven games behind the plate.
May 13 2021Higashioka is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's hold on the No. 1 catching job appears to be shaky, as he's now sitting for the third time in six games. Gary Sanchez, who hit a solo home run in his last start Tuesday, will spell Higashioka behind the plate.
May 11 2021Higashioka will sit Tuesday against Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka looked to be taking over the starting role behind the plate in late April, starting five games out of seven from April 27 through May 4. Since that point, he's started just two games out of six. Gary Sanchez, who starts there Tuesday, could potentially continue to claw back playing time moving forward.
May 9 2021Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After wresting the No. 1 catching job away from Gary Sanchez in late April, Higashioka appears to have fallen back into a timeshare at the position upon falling into a 2-for-20 slump at the plate over his last six games. Higashioka and Sanchez have now alternated starts over the past five contests.
May 7 2021Higashioka is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will take a seat for the second time in the past three games while mired in a 1-for-16 slump. Gary Sanchez will start behind the plate and bat sixth Friday for New York.
May 5 2021Higashioka isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka had started each of the last two games and went1-for-6 with a double, a run, an RBI and three strikeouts during that time. Gary Sanchez will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
May 2 2021Higashioka went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two strikeouts in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka had gone hitless with two walks and three strikeouts in his last eight plate appearances, but he put the Yankees on the board with his double in the second inning Sunday. The 31-year-old has continued to split time behind the dish with Gary Sanchez early in the season, but manager Aaron Boone has indicated that the starting catcher will be determined on a game-to-game basis. Higashioka has slashed .265/.375/.706 with four home runs, seven RBI and six runs in 14 games this year.
Apr 28 2021Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday in the Yankees' 5-1 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After manager Aaron Boone acknowledged prior to Tuesday's game that Higashioka would take on increased work behind the plate with Gary Sanchez off to a dismal start to the season, the 31-year-old rewarded the skipper's faith by slugging his fourth home run. Boone indicated that any decision on his starting catcher would be determined on a game-by-game basis, but Higashioka probably earned himself a second straight turn behind the dish Wednesday. Higashioka is now sitting on a monstrous .320/.414/.880 slash line through 29 plate appearances, and he should be on the radar in all leagues that start two catchers now that he's poised to see an uptick in playing time.
Apr 27 2021Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Higashioka has earned more playing time, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka is starting at catcher and hitting eighth against the Orioles. He's hitting .286/.400/.810 with three home runs in 21 at-bats this season while providing his typically solid defense. Meanwhile, Gary Sanchez is in the midst of a 2-for-28 slump over his last nine games. "It'll be kind of a day-by-day thing," Boone said regarding the playing-time split behind the dish.
Apr 22 2021Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka drew the start in the opening game of the team's series against Cleveland and played a big role in the victory. He began the third inning with a leadoff double and later came around to score. Five frames later, he provided an insurance run with a solo homer -- his third long ball of the campaign. Higashioka figures to draw backup reps at catcher, but has taken advantage of his opportunities to hit .353/.376/1.000 across 21 plate appearances this season. While that's not sustainable, it could force the Yankees to consider giving him playing time on a more regular basis.
Apr 12 2021Higashioka went 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBI in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher took Robbie Ray deep in the fifth inning and added a solo shot off Ryan Borucki in the eighth, accounting for all the Yankees' offense on the night as well as his first two homers of the year. Higashioka has also been behind the plate for two straight brilliant outings by Gerrit Cole, but if he keeps adding value with his bat as well, he'll quickly become more than just the personal catcher for the team's ace.
Apr 7 2021Higashioka will be behind the plate for Gerrit Cole's starts a "fair amount" of the time, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Aaron Boone didn't commit to Higashioka being Cole's personal catcher, but it sure sounds as if the backup backstop will get a chance to start most games when the Yankees' ace is on the mound. Higashioka started Tuesday, when Cole pitched seven scoreless frames and struck out 13 in a win over Baltimore.
Mar 21 2021Higashioka (side) will bat seventh and start behind the plate Sunday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka had been out for most of the week due to side soreness. He was originally expected back Saturday, though the one-day delay shouldn't significantly impact his readiness for the upcoming season.
Mar 19 2021Higashioka (side) is now expected to return to action Sunday against Toronto, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Aaron Boone had previously indicated that Higashioka would start Saturday's game against Baltimore, but the backstop's return from side soreness is now expected to come Sunday instead. There's no indication that Higashioka has suffered a setback; rather, Boone indicated that he wants Gary Sanchez catching Saturday in order for him to log consecutive games behind the plate. Higashioka's move to Sunday means he will now catch ace Gerrit Cole against the Blue Jays.
Mar 17 2021Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he expects Higashioka (side) to catch in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka wasn't available to make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Tigers after experiencing some side soreness, but the Yankees don't seem too concerned about the injury. Boone noted that Higashioka had a "good day" in terms of treatment while he sat out Tuesday, and the 30-year-old will likely be able to work out in some capacity over the next few days. Higashioka looks on track to enter Opening Day as the top backup to Gary Sanchez.
Mar 16 2021Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Higashioka was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers due to a sore side, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Boone suggested Higashioka's removal was precautionary, so the catcher could be ready to rejoin the lineup within a few days. Non-roster invitee Rob Brantly will get a turn behind the plate Tuesday, catching for Gerrit Cole.
Sep 24 2020Manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that who starts at catcher between Higashioka and Gary Sanchez will be a "day-to-day situation," Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has already cut substantially into the struggling Sanchez's playing time, going 7-for-21 with three homers while making six starts behind the dish since Sept.11. Though Sanchez obviously has the edge over Higashioka with regards to postseason experience, it sounds like the catching duties will at least begin as a fluid situation when the Yankees open their Wild Card Series next Tuesday.
Sep 16 2020Higashioka went 3-for-4 with three home runs, five RBI and three runs scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka emerged as an unlikely hero, delivering the second multi-homer game of his career. He went yard in the third, sixth and seventh innings, bringing his total on the campaign to four. Higashioka remains the backup catcher in New York and has only 36 plate appearances to this point in the season.
Sep 11 2020Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during a 6-0 win over the Orioles in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He took Alex Cobb deep in the second inning, giving Higashioka his first long ball and first RBI of the season. The 30-year-old has seen an uptick in playing time due to Gary Sanchez's struggles, starting five of the last 12 games, but as yet Higashioka hasn't been able to consistently take advantage of his opportunities.
Sep 1 2020Higashioka (oblique) was reinstated from the injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka had been out since early August with a strained right oblique. He'd only appeared in three games prior to suffering the injury, going 2-for-9 at the plate. He'll split time with Erik Kratz behind starting backstop Gary Sanchez for now.
Aug 31 2020Higashioka (oblique) is "really close" to being ready to return and could do so in the next few days, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has been on the injured list since Aug. 8 but has recently begun to ramp up his activity. "Kyle's really close. I would expect him to be joining us in the next couple of days," manager Aaron Boone indicated Sunday. Kuty notes that the Yankees could be faced with having to either designate current backup catcher Erik Kratz for assignment or keep three catchers on the squad when Higashioka returns.
Aug 27 2020Higashioka (oblique) took at-bats and caught in a simulated game at the Yankees' alternate training site Thursday, Conor Foley of the Scranton Times-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka has been out since Aug. 8 with a strained right oblique. Manager Aaron Boone indicated Aug. 19 that the backstop wasn't close to returning, but an additional week of recovery seems to have pushed Higashioka to the brink of rejoining the team. Assuming Thursday's session went off without a hitch, Higashioka should come off the injured list in the near future. He would presumably resume his backup role to Gary Sanchez upon his return.
Aug 21 2020Higashioka (oblique) has begun swinging a bat and is reportedly feeling no discomfort, though the team has not announced a timetable for his return, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Tuesday that Higashioka will not be returning "anytime real soon," so the team may be taking a cautious approach despite the fact that the backstop has been ramping up his intensity of late. With the Yankees' weekend series against the Mets canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Higashioka could end up taking on extra duty down the line if the teams are forced to make up the missed contests with doubleheaders.
Aug 19 2020Higashioka (oblique) has been ramping up his activity, but the timeline for his return to action remains uncertain, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave an update on Higashioka on Tuesday, indicating, "He's not going to be coming off anytime real soon here, but it is going well and he continues to ramp up from a from a workload standpoint. But nothing imminent right now." The backstop was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 8 after being diagnosed with a right oblique strain. In his absence, Eric Kratz has gotten into three games (two starts), going 1-for-5 with a walk and a run.
Aug 8 2020Higashioka was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka's last start came Wednesday, but he apparently suffered an oblique injury during the contest. To take his place as the backup catcher behind Gary Sanchez for the time being, the Yankees signed Erik Kratz to a major-league contract. It's unclear how much time Higashioka will miss.
Jul 9 2020Higashioka (neck) is in the lineup for Thursday's intrasquad matchup, Marly Rivera of ESPN reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka was sidelined for several days while nursing a sore neck, but he's healthy enough to start behind the plate during Thursday's intrasquad game. The 30-year-old should be able to resume preparations to serve as the Yankees' backup catcher ahead of the regular season.
Jul 7 2020Manager Aaron Boone said Higashioka sat out Tuesday's intrasquad game due to "some slight neck soreness," Erik Boland of Newsday reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka apparently picked up the injury while catching during Monday's instrasquad action. The 30-year-old is likely to take things slow for a couple days before returning behind the plate. He's poised to serve as the top backup to Gary Sanchez when healthy.
Apr 11 2020Higashioka has been getting in swings by hitting off a pitching machine at his home in Oregon, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a video posted to his personal Instagram account Thursday, Higashioka can be seen hitting bombs off a machine loaded by his wife at their home. The 2020 campaign figures to be the most important of the backstop's career as he is expected to open the season as the Yankees' No. 2 catcher for the first time.
Mar 20 2020According to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Higashioka has "earned the right" to assume the backup backstop role behind Gary Sanchez, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After toiling in the minors for the better part of 12 seasons, Higashioka is in line to assume a spot on the Opening Day roster of a major-league team for the first time in his career. Though the 29-year-old has hit only .164 across 146 big-league at-bats, he enjoyed a strong spring, batting .276 with three home runs in Cactus League play.
Feb 17 2020Higashioka is the front-runner to back up Gary Sanchez at catcher, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka spent much of last season in the minors, hitting .278 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Though he has hit only .164 in 146 career major-league at-bats, the Yankees are optimistic that the 29-year-old is capable of holding down the No. 2 backstop role behind Sanchez. Higashioka will be competing for the spot with a host of veterans -- including Chris Iannetta, Erik Kratz and Josh Thole -- but strong defense, tenure in the organization and a lack of minor-league options are certainly factors working in his favor.
Sep 14 2019Higashioka will take on a "fairly even" split in catching duties while Gary Sanchez (groin) is on the shelf, Jordan Horrobin of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though the Yankees are optimistic that Sanchez will make it back by the end of the season, he is likely to miss around two weeks, giving Higashioka a chance to showcase his abilities down the stretch. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that the decision to split time behind the plate between Higashioka and Austin Romine was made in order to protect both catchers from fatigue. Higashioka started Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader and is back in the lineup, slotted eighth in the batting order, for Saturday's tilt against Toronto.
Sep 8 2019Higashioka was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Higashioka will join the Yankees as the team's third catcher after playing through the playoffs with the RailRiders. The 29-year-old has an .840 OPS in 40 plate appearances while filling in for the Yankees this season.
Aug 10 2019Higashioka was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
Aug 8 2019Higashioka went 2-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in Wednesday's 14-2 win over the Orioles.
Jul 25 2019Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a home run in Thursday's loss to the Red Sox.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2019Higashioka was recalled by the Yankees<\/a> on Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 24 2018Higashioka was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.With Gary Sanchez (groin) back on the disabled list, Higashioka was summoned to serve as the short-term backup behind Austin Romine. He was hitting .198 with five home runs in 209 plate appearances at Triple-A.
Jul 8 2018Higashioka is out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.He'll hit the bench for the second time this series and has returned to the backup role at catcher now that Austin Romine has recovered from the hamstring injury he first suffered June 30. Higashioka started four consecutive games while Romine was sidelined and recorded three hits, all of which were home runs.
Jul 4 2018Higashioka will start at catcher and bat eighth Sunday against the Braves.Higashioka will draw his fourth straight start behind the plate with the top option on the active roster, Austin Romine, still battling a tight hamstring. Per Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Romine said Wednesday that he's feeling "great" and hasn't endured any setbacks in his recovery from the injury, so after a team off day Thursday, the backstop could be ready to rejoin the lineup for Friday's series opener in Toronto. Once Romine is back to full strength, Higashioka, who has recorded two hits -- both homers -- over 10 at-bats in his previous three starts, will likely only be asked to play a couple times per week.
Jul 4 2018Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Braves.The catcher has recorded the first three hits of his big-league career in the last four games, and amazingly all of them have left the yard, making Higashioka only the second Yankee in history after Alfonso Soriano to homer for his first three hits. Austin Romine (hamstring) will likely rejoin the lineup soon, but Higashioka's power display could lead to more playing time for the 28-year-old while Gary Sanchez (groin) is on the shelf.
Jul 1 2018Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Red Sox.Higashioka joined in the Yankees' home run parade and recorded his first major-league home run against David Price. He was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the wake of Gary Sanchez being placed on the disabled list (groin), and is 1-for-7 in limited playing time.
Jun 25 2018Higashioka will be called up Monday with Gary Sanchez (groin) heading to the disabled list, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.Higashioka will back up Austin Romine while Sanchez remains injured. The duration of Sanchez's absence should become clear after an MRI on Monday. Higashioka went hitless in nine games with the Yankees last year, his only taste of big-league action thus far in his career.
Sep 13 2017Higashioka (shoulder) is off the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.With the Triple-A playoffs in full swing, Higashioka returned to the club last Friday after missing about three weeks with a shoulder strain. The Yankees acquired another catcher in Erik Kratz for their 40-man roster during that span, but Higashioka could still be in line to be called up as added catching depth once the minor league season comes to an end.
Sep 7 2017Higashioka began a rehab assignment Wednesday after he had been on the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a shoulder strain, DJ Eberle of the Wilkes Barre Times-Leader reports.Higashioka missed just about two months with a back injury and his return lasted just one day, as the shoulder ailment popped up in mid-August right after he returned to the Triple-A club. It appears as though the 27-year-old catcher is nearing his way back again, but with time running out on the season, the injury setbacks could hurt his chance of receiving a September call up.
Aug 19 2017Higashioka (back) was activated off the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.The catcher ended up missing just about two months with the ailment, and after a brief rehab assignment at the lower levels of the minors, he was back behind the plate Friday for the Triple-A squad. Higashioka is hitting .333 with seven home runs in 19 games at all levels of the minors this season, and he figures to remain the top replacement option behind the plate if the Yankees need an extra catcher.
Jul 31 2017Higashioka has been on the 7-day DL at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since June 22.Higashioka has gotten a couple chances with the big-league squad this year, but he got hurt just two games after heading back to the minors and has been out over a month. While the catcher went 0-for-18 in the majors, he's slashing .286/.340/.490 at Triple-A, so whenever healthy, Higashioka figures to be the first man up if the Yankees need catching depth.
Jun 16 2017Higashioka will join the big-league club in Oakland, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.The 27-year-old catcher has been tearing up Triple-A pitching this season, as he currently holds a .941 OPS with two home runs and 11 RBI in his brief time in the minors this season. The fact that he's heading to the majors seems to indicate that Gary Sanchez (undisclosed) isn't available for Friday's contest, although no official word has come out on that front yet. Higashioka will likely vie for time with Austin Romine behind the dish until Sanchez is back in action.
Jun 8 2017Higashioka (ribs) was activated off the 7-day DL on Wednesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.The catcher missed three weeks with the ailment, and returned Wednesday to go 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Following last season's breakout campaign, Higashioka is hitting just .214/.241/.321 in the minors this year, but he figures to still remain in line as the next man up if the Yankees need another catcher at any point.
Jun 2 2017Higashioka is on the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre disabled list with a rib cage injury, the New York Post reports.Higashioka hasn't played in a game for the Triple-A squad since May 14, so it's unclear how much longer he'll be sidelined for. The 27-year-old got his first taste of the majors earlier this year when starter Gary Sanchez hit the DL, but went hitless in 18 at-bats while striking out six times. It's possible he gets another promotion at some point this season, but even if he does, it's unlikely Higashioka will make much of an impact in the big leagues in 2017.