Position: OF
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 186 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 04/23/1999
Country: Dominican Republic
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2015
Bonus: $450,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2023
Options Left: 3
Overview
Sanchez was the Pirates’ top international signing in 2015. His big asset was speed. He’s a line-drive hitter, but some scouts have criticized his swing because he tries to pull the ball too much. Just the same, he’s almost always had very good BB:K ratios. Until 2022, he stole a lot of bases, but seldom had good success rates. Early in his career he primarily played center, but despite his speed the Pirates soon started playing him mainly in left. He has a good arm.
2016-17
Sanchez didn’t hit the ball with much authority in the DSL in his first season, but did show very good patience and rarely struck out. In 2017, he took a big step forward as the regular center fielder in the GCL. His hitting improved substantially and he even showed good power, slugging .417 in a league where the slugging average was .349. His BB:K ratio continued to be excellent.
2018-21
From 2018 to 2021, Sanchez struggled to get through class A. He had a rough season in 2018, although he was one of the South Atlantic League’s (then low A) younger players. He hit a 2-for-39 slump that started in mid-April and his numbers never recovered. He did hit well in some stretches, putting up an OPS of .586 before the league’s all-star break and .709 after. Sanchez’ plate discipline remained good and he finished fourth in the league in steals with 30, although he got thrown out 13 times.
In 2019, Sanchez went back to low A, hitting 301/377/451. In mid-June he moved to Bradenton (then high A) and stopped hitting, managing an OPS of just 570. After the canceled 2020 season, the Pirates sent him back to high A and, as before, he improved sharply when repeating a level. He batted 264/372/453, with a career-high 17 home runs. He also stole 30 bases and had a BB:K of 55:72.
2022-23
Sanchez opened the 2022 season with Altoona, then got hurt in June and missed about six weeks. He returned to Altoona for about the last five weeks. He continued to show very good plate discipline, but didn’t hit the ball with much authority. The Pirates played him more or less equally at all three outfield positions.
Sanchez would have been a minor league free agent in the fall, but he re-signed a minor league deal for 2023. He spent the season in a part-time role with the Curve. Although he continued to post good walk and K rates, he hit just 227/332/320. He’ll be eligible for free agency again in the fall.
Stats
Transactions
July 2, 2015: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.