WATCH: Yankees’ Aaron Boone discusses Gary Sanchez’s laziness, return to DL

by Felix Pantaleón

Yankees manager Aaron Boone address Gary Sanchez’ lack of hustle and return to the disabled during his pre-game news conference on Tuesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Watch video

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –– The lack of hustle from catcher Gary Sanchez that contributed to the Yankees‘ 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night took on an unexpected day-after twist.

Instead of being benched, Sanchez landed on the 10-day disabled list with a right groin strain just four days after he came off the DL for the same injury in the same spot.

Sanchez insisted he was healthy after Monday’s game during his post-game interview, but he admitted on Tuesday that he wasn’t telling the truth.

He didn’t even tell his coaching staff or trainers about his injury until after the game.

Why lie?

“Sometimes you feel aches and you just keep playing and you get through them and it goes away,” Sanchez said. “The same thing (Monday) night. I thought I was going to be able to get through it without a problem. I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal at all. That’s why I didn’t say anything.”

Sanchez’s latest DL stint has Kyle Higashioka back again from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to back up Austin Romine, who will be elevated into the starting role.

Watch the video above for manager Aaron Boone’s reaction to his whole ordeal.

Here are other NJ Advance Media posts on Sanchez’s lack of hustle:

— Gary Sanchez grilled on groin ‘injury’ and loafing | What did he say?

— MLB scout: Gary Sanchez’s laziness could cost Yankees in the World Series

— Is Gary Sanchez headed for DL after his costly laziness? Was he hurt? Did teammates rip him?

— Hurt? Benched? Gary Sanchez not in Yankees lineup vs. Rays on Tuesday

— Gary Sanchez to disabled list after denying groin injury was source of laziness

— Did Yankees troll Gary Sanchez for lollygagging with tweet supporting Austin Romine’s hustle?

— WATCH: Gary Sanchez’s loafing costs Yankees in 7-6 loss to Rays | Rapid reaction

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.