HR Derby bound Gary Sanchez responds to jabs made by Rays' Logan Morrison

Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez announce they will compete in this year's Home Run Derby: #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/VewmEGr4dr

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 3, 2017

Gary Sanchez hasn't played in the majors long enough to receive much criticism from players around the league, but the Yankees' sophomore catcher responded courteously to some bitter jabs made by Rays' first baseman Logan Morrison on Tuesday. Following baseball's release of its Home Run Derby participants, Morrison (24 home runs) complained about how he wasn't considered for next week's event, and how the 24-year-old Sanchez (13 home runs) took his rightful spot.  “Gary shouldn’t be there,” Morrison told the Tampa Bay Times. "Only Aaron Judge (28) and George Springer (25) have more. Gary’s a great player, but he shouldn’t be in the Home Run Derby. I remember when I had 14 home runs. That was a month and a half ago. “Mike Moustakas (who also has 24 homers) should be there. I’m not disappointed. It’s par for the course. I play for the Rays. I get it. They can’t even get my picture right. When they put my name up there, they put Corey (Dickerson’s) picture up there on MLB Network.” But, no need to blame me, retorted Sanchez. “What can I say? That’s something that I have no control of,” Sanchez told the New York Post on Wednesday. “It’s not my fault he didn’t get selected. They gave me a call, basically gave me an invitation … and I told them, ‘Well, I don’t even know if I’m making the All-Star Game, so I don’t know if I will have the opportunity to attend the derby.' Now, if I make the All-Star Game, then for sure, I’ll do it. It’s an honor to participate in the event.” Both Sanchez and Judge will be swinging for the fences at Marlins Park in Miami on July 10. Morrison, who isn't an All-Star yet, can still be voted in by fans with the American League's final vote, which will be announced on Thursday. If you want to connect with Tom Hanslin, email him at thanslin@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @tomhanslin.