Kyle Higashioka Injury News & Updates

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday at Detroit.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday in a 4-2 win against the Tigers.

HIgashioka accounted for New York's second run of the contest with his fifth-inning solo homer. The long ball was the second in three games for the backstop and his third over his past seven contests, though all have been solo shots. With Ben Rortvedt slashing a measly .122/.246/.265 on the campaign, Higashioka has settled into the primary catcher role for the Yankees, starting each of the team's past three games.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Rays.

Higashioka and DJ LeMahieu hit back-to-back-back jacks off Zach 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.

Higashioka went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's loss to Boston.

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.

Higashioka finds himself on the bench for the second time in three games Saturday against the Red Sox.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

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.

Higashioka is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Astros.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rays.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Higashioka will start at catcher and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Royals.

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Higashioka will sit Saturday versus the Reds.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Higashioka and the Yankees avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year deal.

Higashioka homered 10 times in 248 trips to the plate 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.

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's victory over Baltimore.

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 .461 over that short stretch.

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a double and scored two runs in Tuesday's 5-2 victory versus the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Rays.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to Seattle.

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 game during a four-game stretch in mid-June.

Higashioka went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 16-0 win over the Pirates.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to Toronto on Sunday.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer during Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Rays.

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.

Higashioka went 3-for-5 with two homers and three runs in Sunday's 18-4 win over the Cubs.

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.

Higashioka was Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register Tuesday.

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.

Higashioka (undisclosed) was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Sunday.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

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.

Higashioka will sit Friday against the White Sox, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka isn't starting Monday versus the Rangers.

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, though he has recorded a hit in four of his last seven games. Jose Trevino will get the start behind the plate and bat ninth Monday.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Rangers.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka isn't starting Monday against Toronto.

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.

HIgashioka went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double and three RBI in Friday's 12-2 win over Kansas City.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Higashioka is sitting for the fourth time in six games and looks to have fallen behind Jose Trevino on the depth chart at catcher. The 32-year-old could be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre whenever fellow backstop Ben Rortvedt (oblique) is cleared to return from the 10-day injured list.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Guardians.

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.

Higashioka will sit Friday against Cleveland.

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.

Higashioka is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers.

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.

Higashioka is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Orioles.

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.

Higashioka will sit Thursday against the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in a Grapefruit League win over Atlanta on Saturday.

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.

Higashioka is slashing .500/.538/1.250 with three home runs, four RBI and four runs scored over 13 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

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.

Higashioka and the Yankees agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $935,000 contract to avoid arbitration, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

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 67g games in 2021, hitting a mere .181 but providing solid power numbers (10 home runs, 29 RBI).

Higashioka 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.

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.

Higashioka 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.

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.

Higashioka will start Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game against the Red Sox, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 8-7 win over the Mets.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in an 8-2 win over Oakland on Friday.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Twins.

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.

Higashioka is on the bench for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Red Sox.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's loss to the Royals.

It was largely a frustrating game for the backstop, as he struck out twice and committed two errors. However, Higashioka came through with a fourth-inning two-run blast that temporarily gave the Yankees a lead. The long ball was Higashioka's first since June 22. He has a career-high seven homers on the season but is slashing a paltry .185/.261/.411.

Higashioka isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Seattle.

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.

Higashioka will start at catcher and bat eighth Thursday against the Mariners.

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.

Higashioka (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

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.

Yankees 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.

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.

Higashioka tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

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.

Higashioka 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

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Tuesday's loss to the Royals.

Higashioka took Brady Singer deep in the second inning. The 31-year-old backup catcher now has six long balls on the season while batting .191/.273/.438 across 34 games.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup Friday against the White Sox.

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.

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

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.

Higashioka will sit Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

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.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals.

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.

Higashioka is not in the lineup Friday against the Nationals.

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.

Higashioka isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Astros.

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.

Higashioka went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two strikeouts in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Tigers.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday in the Yankees' 5-1 win over the Orioles.

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.

Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Higashioka has earned more playing time, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.

Higashioka is starting at catcher and hitting eighth against the Orioles. He is 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," Boon said, regarding the playing time split behind the dish.

Higashioka went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a solo home run and two runs scored Thursday against Cleveland.

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.

Higashioka went 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBI in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka will be behind the plate for Gerrit Cole's starts a "fair amount" of the time, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

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.

Higashioka (side) will bat seventh and start behind the plate Sunday against the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka (side) is now expected to return to action Sunday against Toronto, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports.

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.

Yankees 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.

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.

Yankees 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.

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.

Manager 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.

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.

Higashioka went 3-for-4 with three home runs, five RBI and three runs scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

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.

Higashioka 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.

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.

Higashioka (oblique) was reinstated from the injured list Tuesday.

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.

Higashioka (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.

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," 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.

Higashioka (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.

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.

Higashioka (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.

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.

Higashioka (oblique) has been ramping up his activity, but the timeline for his return to action remains uncertain, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave an update on Higashioka 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.

Higashioka was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain.

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.

Higashioka (neck) is in the lineup for Thursday's intrasquad matchup, Marly Rivera of ESPN reports.

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.

Manager Aaron Boone said Higashioka sat out Tuesday's intrasquad game due to "some slight neck soreness," Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Higashioka apparently picked up the injury while catching Monday's 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.

Higashioka has been getting in swings by hitting off a pitching machine at his home in Oregon, Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reports.

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 backstop role for the first time.

According 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.

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.

Higashioka is the front-runner to back up Gary Sanchez at catcher, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

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.

Higashioka will take on a "fairly even" split in catching duties while Gary Sanchez (groin) is on the shelf, Jordan Horrobin of MLB.com reports.

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.