Yankees put Gary Sanchez on DL, farm out Clint Frazier | What it means

Yankees roster changes gives them 14 pitchers on their 25-man roster.

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PHILADELPHIA –The Yankees changed up their roster before Monday night’s interleague series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Catcher Gary Sanchez going on the 10-day disabled list was expected.

Outfielder Clint Frazier being optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre isn’t a big surprise, either.

Catcher Kyle Higashioka and reliever Giovanny Gallegos were recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Sanchez and Frazier on the 25-man roster.

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Sanchez was DL’d a day after he strained his right groin Sunday running out a groundout in the 10th inning of the Yankees’ 7-6, 12-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

There was no immediate word how much time Sanchez is expected to miss.

During Sanchez’s absence, Austin Romine will take over as the starting catcher.

Gallegos coming up gives the Yankees’ 14 pitchers for the first time before September when rosters expand.

This move leaves the Yankees’ with a three-man bench for this week’s road interleague series.

Frazier hit .350 (7 for 20) in eight games with the Yankees, but his most recent call-up from Triple-A occurred only because left fielder Brett Gardner was bothered by a sore knee last week.

Frazier, 23, started all three of the Yankees’ games last week against the Seattle Mariners, but as limited to one pinch-hitting appearance over the weekend when the Rays swept a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

Gallegos, 26, was 1-1 with a 5.09 ERA in 12 Triple-A relief appearances plus he pitched two scoreless inning in one previous outing with the Yankees this season.

A long-time Yankees farmhand/cup of coffee big leaguer, Higashioka was hitting .191 with five homers and 22 RBI in 51 International League games this season.

The 2008 seventh-round draft pick debuted in the majors last season going 0 for 18 with two walks with the Yankees in nine games, five as a starter.

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