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Higashioka is 5-for-10 with a pair of home runs through eight spring training appearances.

Previously a fairly unheralded prospect, Higashioka had a breakout season in 2016, as he mashed 21 home runs and hit .276 (up from a .242 career average) across Double-A and Triple-A and was ultimately added to the 40-man roster after the season. Even following the offseason trade of Brian McCann, Higashioka still faces a tall task to win the backup catcher job on the parent club over Austin Romine, but if he continues to hit at this pace he'll force the Yankees brass to take notice.

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