Tony Sanchez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #15 prospect in 2014
  The Pirates pulled a surprise in the 2009 draft when they selected Sanchez, a consensus late-first-round talent, with the No. 4 overall pick. He finally rewarded the organization's faith by getting to the major leagues in 2013 and sticking with the club for good after backup catcher Mike McKenry suffered a season-ending knee injury in late July. The book on Sanchez when he was drafted was that he was nearly ready for the major leagues defensively--the Pirates compared him with the Cardinals' Yadier Molina--but that his hitting would need time to develop. While Sanchez has turned into an offensive threat with power and decent plate discipline, his defense has regressed because he has developed throwing problems. The Pirates and Sanchez won't go as far as to say he has the yips, but manager Clint Hurdle tried to limit his starts against running teams. The Pirates are optimistic he can overcome his problems. Sanchez has a good feel for the game and if he can overcome the throwing demons he could become a first-division catcher.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #12 prospect in 2013
  Pittsburgh took plenty of heat for selecting Sanchez with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft and signing him for a below-slot $2.5 million. The Pirates' strategy was to use the savings toward signing Dominican slugger Miguel Sano, but they lost Sano to the Twins. After four pro seasons, Sanchez hasn't done much on his part to justify the selection. Sanchez was supposed to be close to major league-ready defensively when he was drafted, but he has struggled behind the plate and shown signs of the yips when throwing the ball back to the pitcher. He has a strong arm but lacks consistent accuracy on his throws, which is why he has thrown out just 24 percent of basestealers in pro ball. To his credit, he has become a good receiver and learned how to work better with pitchers. There are questions about whether Sanchez will develop enough offensively to be a major league regular. His swing gets long and he becomes too pull-conscious when he tries to hit for power, and his average dipped to .233 last year in Triple-A. A realistic expectation would be for him to become an average hitter with moderate power. He's a well below-average runner. It's too early to write Sanchez off as a starter, though Pittsburgh planned on him being their regular catcher by now. Instead, the Pirates signed Russell Martin as a free agent this offseason and will send Sanchez back to Indianapolis. They did protect him on the 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #7 prospect in 2012
  The Pirates stunned most draft analysts by selecting Sanchez with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 draft, a decision made in part because he would sign quickly for $2.5 million. Regarded as a quality defender behind the plate but with a questionable bat, he surprisingly hit .312/.413/.494 in his first two pro seasons before struggling in Double-A in 2011. He also was benched for three games after criticizing Eastern League umpires on Twitter. With his strong arm, receiving skills and feel for working with pitchers, Sanchez has Gold Glove ability. However, his defense slipped in 2011 as he got sloppy with his footwork and lost some accuracy on his throws. He erased just 22 percent of basestealers. Sanchez also regressed offensively, as his swing got long and he got too pull-conscious. He projects as an average hitter with moderate power and the willingness to draw walks. Sanchez's defensive ability gives him a chance to be a frontline major league catcher. Pittsburgh once hoped he would be ready to take over in 2012 with Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder leaving as free agents, but that isn't going to happen. Instead, Sanchez almost certainly will start the season back at Altoona, and he may not arrive in the majors before mid-2013.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #2 prospect in 2011
  Sanchez was a surprise pick at No. 4 overall in the 2009 draft, but he has demonstrated advanced defense and surprisingly consistent offense since signing for $2.5 million. His first full pro season ended in late June when a fastball from the Mets' Brad Holt struck him in the face. Sanchez's jaw was broken and he lost 20 pounds while recovering, but he returned for a full, productive Arizona Fall League showing. Sanchez is exceptional at blocking pitches, thanks to quick reflexes and sound technique. His arm strength grades as a 55-60 on the 20-80 scouting scale and he has a quick exchange. He threw out only 15 percent of basestealers in 2010, but that owed to a sore shoulder early in the season. He's still learning to call games, something he didn't do in high school or at Boston College. At the plate, Sanchez has shown mature recognition of the strike zone and how pitchers are trying to work him. He has some gap power and should be able to reach double digits in homers, though his strength will remain hitting to all fields for good average. His running is below-average, as with most catchers. His leadership traits are universally lauded. Sanchez will open this season with Double-A Altoona and remains on target for a big league arrival in 2012. He has the potential to become Pittsburgh's first Gold Glove catcher since Mike LaValliere in 1987.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #3 prospect in 2010
  The Pirates took heat for overdrafting and overpaying Sanchez with the fourth overall pick in June, but he silenced critics who questioned his bat by hitting a combined .309/.439/.539 at three levels after signing for $2.5 million. He lost 30 pounds during his three seasons at Boston College and led the Eagles to their first NCAA tournament berth in 42 years last spring. Sanchez is an outstanding defensive catcher with soft hands, a strong arm and good ball-blocking skills. He threw out 33 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. Once he switched to wood bats in pro ball, he did a better job of keeping his swing under control and hitting the ball to the middle of the field. He should have solid-average power. He has good baseball instincts, a great deal of charisma and leadership skills. Sanchez can tighten up his footwork behind the plate and is still learning how to call games. He's a well-below-average runner, though that's typical for a catcher. Sanchez figures to reach Double-A at some point in 2010, though he may return to high Class A to start the season. A potential Gold Glover, he has a big league ETA of 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Florida State League #6 prospect in 2010
  Sanchez's season ended in late June when St. Lucie's Brad Holt hit him in the face with a fastball, fracturing his jaw and forcing him to eat through a straw for several weeks. Before he got hurt, he displayed advanced defensive skills and a promising bat. D'Arnaud may have a higher ceiling, but Sanchez has more polish. His arm strength rates as 55-60 on the 20-80 scouting scale, and it plays up because he has a quick exchange, though he did only throw out 15 percent of basestealers this year. When it comes to blocking pitches in the dirt, he's exceptional. "He is the one of the best blocking behind the plate I've seen," Bradenton manager P.J. Forbes said. "You don't see guys with that kind of reflexes and his recognition." Sanchez is still learning how to call pitches because he never did so in high school or college. At the plate, he shows an ability to use all fields and a recognition for how a pitcher is trying to work him. Most of his power comes to the gaps, though he should be able to reach double digits in home runs annually.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2009
  Though Sanchez didn't grade out as the fourth-best player in the 2009 draft, that's where the Pirates selected him after projecting him as a potential all-star who'd be a slick fielder and solid hitter. That's exactly what he looked like in the SAL, and he hit even better than expected. His makeup also set him apart from other players for the Pirates, as he's a charismatic guy who loves to play the game. Sanchez controls the strike zone and he doesn't always try to pull the ball, using the opposite field to his advantage. He showed a better approach with wood bats than he did with metal in college. Defensively, Sanchez moves well behind the plate and does a good job of getting in front of pitches in the dirt. He has soft receiving hands and a strong arm, though there's room for refinement in his footwork. He threw out 30 percent of SAL basestealers.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #46 prospect in 2011
• Ranked Baseball America's #79 prospect in 2010

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Pirates stunned most draft analysts by selecting Sanchez with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 draft, a decision made in part because he'd sign quickly for $2.5 million. Regarded as a quality defender behind the plate but with a questionable bat, he surprisingly hit .312/.413/.494 in his first two pro seasons before struggling in Double-A in 2011. He also was benched for three games after criticizing Eastern League umpires on Twitter. Scouting Report: With his strong arm, receiving skills and feel for working with pitchers, Sanchez has Gold Glove ability. However, his defense slipped in 2011 as he got sloppy with his footwork and lost some accuracy on his throws. He erased just 22 percent of basestealers. Sanchez also regressed offensively, as his swing got long and he got too pull-conscious. He projects as an average hitter with moderate power and the willingness to draw walks. The Future: Sanchez's defensive ability gives him a chance to be a frontline major league catcher. Pittsburgh once hoped he would be ready to take over in 2012 with Ryan Doumit and Chris Snyder leaving as free agents, but that isn't going to happen. Instead, Sanchez almost certainly will start the season back at Altoona, and he may not arrive in the majors before mid-2013.