Higashioka (ribs) was activated off the 7-day DL on Wednesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The catcher missed three weeks with the ailment, and returned Wednesday to go 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Following last season's breakout campaign, Higashioka is hitting just .214/.241/.321 in the minors this year, but he figures to still remain in line as the next man up if the Yankees need another catcher at any point.