Sanchez elects to skip WBC to focus on Yankees

Catching phenom Gary Sanchez has changed his mind regarding the World Baseball Classic as he has instead elected to remain with the New York Yankees throughout spring training, according to WFAN's Sweeny Murti.

Sanchez initially told the Dominican Republic team he would play for them at the tournament, according to Murti.

"I actually said yes initially," Sanchez said through an interpreter Tuesday, according to The New York Post's Ken Davidoff. "I was going to be on the team. This last week, I spoke to my family, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt I had to be in spring training for the full spring training to get ready for the season."

Though the Dominican Republic already boasts a preliminary lineup of heavy-hitting sluggers, such as Adrian Beltre, Manny Machado, and Robinson Cano, Sanchez is a considerable loss for the side that is expected to be contenders in the competition.

"I've only been in the big leagues for two months, and I know it went well, but there's still a lot I have to do preparation-wise to be able to catch for a whole season for the first time," Sanchez added, according to Davidoff.

The 24-year-old exploded onto the scene in 2016, slashing .299/.376/.657 with 20 home runs in just 53 games with the Yankees last season.