Freddy Sanchez Stats & Scouting Report

AB	3402
AVG	.297
OBP	.335
SLG	.413
HR	48

Full name Frederick Phillip Sanchez
Born 12/21/1977 in Hollywood, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Oklahoma City
Debut 09/10/2002
Drafted in the 11th round (332nd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2000.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Sanchez was considered one of the Red Sox' best prospects when Boston sent him to the Pirates at the trade deadline in 2003. However, he played just one game with Triple-A Nashville before having a bone spur removed from his right ankle in November 2003, which also caused him to miss the first 21⁄2 months of last season. Sanchez makes consistent contact and has hit for average at just about every stop of his career. He is an excellent bat handler who excels at the hit-and-run. He's also an intelligent player who makes up for a lack of pure athletic ability with smarts. He has little power, and his range and arm at the two middle-infield spots is only adequate, though he is surehanded. Sanchez was born with a clubfoot on his right leg, and though he has overcome it, it is cause for long-range concern. He will likely be the Pirates' utility infielder this season with his ability to play second, third and shortstop. Sanchez was considered the second baseman of the future at the time of the trade, but Jose Castillo now stands in his way after a decent rookie season in 2004.
Sanchez was the Red Sox' most advanced prospect until they parted with him to acquire Scott Sauerback and Jeff Suppan in July. The Pirates planned for Sanchez to take over at second base in September, but he played just one game at Triple-A Nashville before being shut down with a stress fracture in his right ankle. A career .323 hitter in the minors, Sanchez sprays line drives to all fields and has a good understanding of the strike zone. He has good pop for a middle infielder and drove the ball better than ever in 2003. He also wins high marks for his enthusiasm, hustle and instincts. Sanchez has played a lot of shortstop, but his below-average arm makes him better suited for second. His ankle problem may hurt his speed and range, which were average to begin with. Sanchez will battle Bobby Hill, another touted young infielder acquired in a midseason trade, for the starting job at second base. He could go back to shortstop, particularly if Jack Wilson, a former summer league teammate, doesn't improve offensively.
After leading all minor league shortstops with a .334 average in 2001, Sanchez proved that performance was no fluke. He made the Double-A Eastern League all-star team, was Triple-A Pawtucket's player of the year and drilled a two-run single in his first big league at-bat. Sanchez has excellent hand-eye coordination and the ability to make consistent line-drive contact and hit for gap power. His instincts enhance his physical skills at the plate, on the bases and in the field. He has a solid average arm at shortstop and reads balls well off the bat. The knock on Sanchez always has been that he lacks pure shortstop range, though that's a moot point with Garciaparra in Boston. The Red Sox believe Sanchez could play short if needed. After making strides with his selectivity in Double-A, he regressed in Triple-A and the majors. Sanchez was the frontrunner for the Red Sox' second-base job until they traded for Todd Walker. Now he'll get more time to improve in Triple-A and could ease into the majors in a utility role. Walker becomes a free agent after the 2003 season, so Sanchez could be the starter in 2004.
Sanchez went to the NAIA World Series with Dallas Baptist in 1999, then earned NAIA all-America honors at Oklahoma City and short-season Lowell's MVP award the following year. But no one was prepared for his breakout performance last season. He led all minor league shortstops with a .334 average and made the Arizona Fall League all-prospect team after hitting .348. Sanchez has proven he can make contact, hit for average and drive balls into the gaps. He recognizes pitches well and has a sound stroke. He's a gritty player who has soft hands on defense. Most scouts don't think Sanchez can stay at shortstop. He lacks the range and agility for the position, and his average arm would fit better at second base. He spent most of his time in the AFL at third, but he lacks the power for the hot corner. Offensively, he could draw more walks. The Red Sox haven't give up on Sanchez as a shortstop. They might give him a look in spring training as a utilityman, but he'll probably wind up playing short in Triple-A this year.
When the Red Sox signed Guerrero for $755,000 in January 1998, they established a new bonus record for a Dominican player. Three years later, they have seen little return on their investment. He has yet to homer as a pro, and his .240 average at short-season Lowell in 2000 represented a career high. The younger brother of Expos Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, Julio was considered a potential five-tool shortstop when he signed. He moved to the outfield in 1999 and will settle in right field if he can’t handle center. His biggest needs are to get stronger and make better contact. The only offensive skill he has displayed to this point is basestealing ability, as he has succeeded in 37 of 46 attempts in three years. Boston will have to be patient with Guerrero, and he might be best off returning to Lowell in order to put up some decent numbers.

Minor League Top Prospects

Sanchez is the working man's prospect. He's not flashy but gets the job done despite hitting being his only above-average tool. Sent to the Pirates at the trade deadline, Sanchez looked more fluid at shortstop because he has more experience there than at second base, where his arm plays better. "He's got intangibles," Pawtucket manager Buddy Bailey said. "He's steady and plays with a lot of energy and did everything extremely well. He has the ability to play either position. At short, he's very instinctive and while he doesn't have the arm like Reyes, he makes all the plays." Sanchez certainly has enough bat for the middle infield. He was leading the league in hitting and on-base percentage when the Red Sox called him to Boston at the end of May. Managers considered Sanchez the IL's best righthanded hitter, praising his line-drive stroke and plate discipline.
It's tough to be a shortstop in the Red Sox organization. Trenton fans still remember when Nomar Garciaparra played for the Thunder, and he's an icon in Boston. That won't necessarily be a problem for Sanchez, as scouts long have felt his arm, range and agility would be a better fit at second base. A career .319 hitter in the minors, he has fine instincts and a knack for putting the ball in play. He occasionally will steal a base or drive a double into the gaps. "He makes good contact, plus he can run," one scout said. "They're going to have to move him to second because of Nomar, or they're going to have to trade him."
Like Garcia and Montalbano, Sanchez earned a promotion to Trenton. Before leaving, he challenged for the FSL batting title and showed gap power. He's a good fastball hitter with a short, quick stroke. Sanchez displays above-average range and mobility at shortstop with soft hands and a quick release. His arm is just average and he may be better suited for second base, which is a greater need in Boston than shortstop. Scouts and managers credited Sanchez for his gritty play and natural baseball instincts. "He's a plus defender but I was really attracted to the way he swung the bat," Butterfield said. "He's tough to K. He just wore us out."