Sixto Sánchez

(Redirected from Sixto Sanchez)

Sixto Sánchez Encarnación (born July 29, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Sixto Sánchez
Sánchez with the Miami Marlins in 2020
Miami Marlins – No. 18
Pitcher
Born: (1998-07-29) July 29, 1998 (age 26)
San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 22, 2020, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through May 25, 2024)
Win–loss record3–5
Earned run average4.71
Strikeouts50
Teams

Early life

edit

Sánchez was born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic.[1] He played shortstop as a youth.[2]

Career

edit

Philadelphia Phillies

edit

The Philadelphia Phillies happened upon Sánchez when they saw him throwing batting practice at a workout for a Cuban catcher the Phillies were scouting in 2014.[3] He signed with the Phillies for a $35,000 signing bonus as an international free agent in February 2015.[4] He made his professional debut as a pitcher that year with the Dominican Summer League Phillies. He had 1–2 win–loss record with a 4.56 earned run average.[1] He pitched in 2016 with the Rookie Gulf Coast Phillies.[5][6][7] He was 5–0 (tied for 4th in the Gulf Coast League in wins) with an 0.50 ERA, a WHIP of 0.759, and a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1] At 17 years of age, his fastball was 97-98 mph.[2] He was named both a Baseball America Rookie All Star, and a Gulf Coast League Post-Season All Star.[1] Baseball America named him the Number 80 prospect in baseball.[8]

Sánchez started 2017 with the Single–A Lakewood BlueClaws, and was promoted to the High–A Clearwater Threshers during the season, with whom he was the youngest pitcher in the Florida State League.[9] [10][11][12] On July 30 he was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week.[1] He threw a fastball in the high 90s that reached 102 mph.[9][2] Between the two teams he was 5–7 with a 3.03 ERA, a WHIP of 0.958, and a 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1] Baseball America named him the Number 25 prospect in baseball, MLB.com ranked him as the Number 26 prospect, and MLB Pipeline named him the No. 47 prospect.[13][9][2]

Sánchez entered 2018 as the Phillies number one prospect and one of the top prospects overall in the minors, pitching again for Clearwater.[14] He has been compared to Pedro Martinez.[15] On June 3 he was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, and he was named a Florida State League Mid-Season All Star.[1] The Phillies shut him down after June 3 due to right elbow inflammation.[16] He was 4–3 with a 2.51 ERA, and a 4.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1][13] Baseball America named him the Number 13 prospect in baseball, MLB Pipeline named him the No. 21 prospect, and Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the Number 23 prospect.[13][17]

Miami Marlins

edit

On February 7, 2019, Sánchez was traded with Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart, and $250,000 in international bonus slot money to the Miami Marlins in exchange for J. T. Realmuto.[18] He began the 2019 season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[19] Sánchez was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[20] In 2019 between Jacksonville and the High–A Jupiter Hammerheads he was 8-6 with a 2.76 ERA in 20 starts (114.0 innings).[21] On November 20, 2019, the Marlins added Sánchez to their 40–man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[22]

On August 20, 2020, Sánchez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut on August 22, and notched his first career win.[23] Sánchez completed the season with a 3-2 record, and a 3.46 ERA over 39 innings. On October 2, Sánchez made his postseason debut, going for 5 innings, while allowing no earned runs. Sánchez received a single vote in National League Rookie of the Year voting, tying him for seventh place with Ian Anderson and Andrés Giménez.[24]

On July 5, 2021, Sánchez underwent season-ending surgery after an MRI revealed a small tear in the posterior capsule of his right shoulder.[25] He did not make any appearances for the Marlins organization in 2021 due to the injury. Sánchez did not make an appearance for any Miami affiliate during the 2022 season as he recovered from surgery. On October 5, 2022, he underwent surgery for right shoulder arthroscopic bursectomy.[26]

Sánchez was optioned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the 2023 season.[27] However, he only appeared in one rehab game for the Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos in September, and did not pitch in another game on the year.[28]

On March 22, 2024, manager Skip Schumaker announced that Sánchez had made Miami's Opening Day roster.[29] He was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on June 2,[30] and transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 25.[31]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h ""Sixto Sanchez Stats, Highlights, Bio" | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d ""Sixto Sanchez: 19-Year-Old Pedro Martinez Clone Already Has 102 MPH Heat"". Bleacher Report. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Callis, Jim (May 24, 2018). "2019 Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  4. ^ "A Phillies prospect you'll soon be hearing a lot about". csnphilly.com. November 1, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "Phillies prospect Sixto Sánchez the latest fascination in Latino pitching pipeline". philly.com. February 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Baseball America's latest list: Phillies have a new top pitching prospect". phillyvoice.com. December 14, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  7. ^ Fast-working Phillies prospect Sixto Sanchez could make quick ascent - Bob Brookover
  8. ^ ""Sixto Sanchez Minor Leagues Statistics & History"". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Zolecki, Todd (May 24, 2018). "Phillies' Sixto Sanchez climbing up rankings". MLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Ryan Lawrence (June 30, 2017). "The kid with the golden arm: Phillies prospect Sixto Sanchez showcases triple-digit fastball". Phillyvoice.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Only 18 and armed with a 95 mph fastball, Phillies' Sanchez an up-and-coming prospect". Delawareonline.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Phillies promote pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez to Clearwater
  13. ^ a b c "Three Phillies prospects named to 2019 Baseball America Top 100"
  14. ^ "Top 100 MLB Prospects 2018". Baseball America. January 22, 2018.
  15. ^ Knobler, Danny. "Sixto Sanchez: 19-Year-Old Pedro Martinez Clone Already Has 102 MPH Heat". Bleacher Report.
  16. ^ Ben Badler (January 2, 2019). ""10 MLB Prospects We Hope Have A Healthy 2019 After Struggling With Injuries"". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  17. ^ Veasey, Matthew (January 23, 2019). ""Four Phillies prospects land on respected 2019 Top 100 lists" – Phillies Nation". Philliesnation.com. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  18. ^ Collier, Jamal (February 7, 2019). "Phillies land Realmuto for 3 players, int'l money". MLB.com. MLB. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  19. ^ Frisaro, Joe (April 14, 2019). "Sixto Sanchez to make Double-A debut in May". MLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  20. ^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  21. ^ "Sixto Sanchez Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  22. ^ Jordan McPherson (November 20, 2019). "Marlins add top prospects eligible for Rule 5 draft to 40-man roster, DFA Wei-Yin Chen". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  23. ^ Joe Frisaro (August 22, 2020). "Marlins top prospect Sixto makes MLB debut". MLB.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "2020 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  25. ^ "Sixto Sanchez to Undergo Shoulder Surgery". July 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Requires shoulder surgery". lmtonline.com. September 29, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  27. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Shipped to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Out of options". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  29. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Cracks Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  30. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Out with shoulder inflammation". cbssports.com. June 27, 2024.
  31. ^ "Marlins' Sixto Sanchez: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. June 27, 2024.
edit