NEW YORK -- Though his friend and teammate Aaron Judge got an invite, Gary Sanchez said he doesn't expect a call to join this year's Home Run Derby.



"I only have 12 home runs," Sanchez said via the team's translator before Thursday's 8-4 win over the Angels at Yankee Stadium. "They haven't asked me. I think they're going to ask the guys that have 20 and more. Most likely, those will be the guys who get asked."



Would he participate if asked?



"I don't know. I'm not really good at home run derbys. So I don't know. We'd have to think about it," he said.



Asking Sanchez probably wouldn't be as crazy as he made it sound.

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The 24-year-old's home run total was the second-most in the league for catchers to start Thursday, only behind the Royals' Salvador Perez at 15. Sanchez missed an entire month rehabbing from a right biceps strain.

He's tied for 28th in the league in homers. Judge (24) and Brett Gardner (13) have more than him on the Yankees.



Sanchez clubbed 20 homers in 53 games to finish second in the American League Rookie of the Year vote in 2016.



Despite a somewhat slow start in his return from the injury, Sanchez has turned it on lately.



He's hitting .339 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in June. The Dominican Republic native went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's victory.



Sanchez said his swing has gotten shorter and his pitch selection has improved.



"I would say the adjustment has to do with having a shorter swing, and like I said before, just the quality of at-bats I have right now, they feel better," he said. "I'm not swinging at pitches that aren't strikes. I'm making them throw me strikes.



He added, "I would say the swing feels better overall. But the key now is to stay consistent and have a consistent swing so you can keep putting results out there."

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.