Eduardo Sanchez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #8 prospect in 2012
  Less than a year after pitching a perfect inning in the 2010 Futures Game, Sanchez made quick work of his major league debut and validated a new frontier for the Cardinals with each pitch. He received a cameo at closer and settled in as a hard-throwing set-up man before a shoulder injury in mid-June all but ended his season. Sanchez's stuff is far more imposing than his reed-thin frame. He repeatedly delivers 94-95 mph fastballs and can reach back for upper-90s heat. His fastball has natural movement that he exploits further by commanding the pitch to both sides of the plate and down in the strike zone. Sanchez's hard, quick slider handcuffs righthanders, who hit .136 with 24 strikeouts in 59 at-bats against him in the majors. He can dominate big leaguers as long as he's throwing strikes, which becomes a problem at times. Sanchez's shoulder soreness relented late in the season, though St. Louis left him off its playoff roster. He won't need surgery and should have a normal offseason. He should make the big league bullpen in 2012, with his role to be determined.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #7 prospect in 2011
  With little fanfare, Sanchez breezed through his three batters in the 2010 Futures Game, getting three routine groundballs on a series of 96-97 mph fastballs. It was a familiar script. Unheralded when signed out of Venezuela, the slight reliever began a meteoric rise in 2009 and continued his ascension last year, succeeding as a closer in Double-A and a set-up man in Triple-A. The engine behind Sanchez's fastball, which sits at 95-97 mph and threatens to hit 100, is an agile and consistent delivery. He has enough command and movement with his fastball to keep it down in the zone, and he gets most of his outs on grounders and strikeouts. Sanchez's slider has good depth and terrorizes righthanders, who hit .157 against him in 2010. Control troubles surfaced at times in 2009, but he did a better job throwing strikes last year. Durability remains his biggest concern, as his small frame leaves some scouts wondering how his stuff will hold up at the major league level. Added to the 40-man roster in November, Sanchez will come to big league camp but probably open 2011 closing games at Memphis. He has a steady pulse in save situations, which will enhance his chances of sneaking into St. Louis' crowded righthanded relief picture.
• 
  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #6 prospect in 2010
  An unheralded acquisition from the Cardinals' expanding presence in Latin America, Sanchez wasn't big and his mechanics were raw when the Cardinals signed him. He threw 92-93 mph when he joined their Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League affiliate in 2006. Three years later, he was the system's breakout prospect of 2009. After Double-A Springfield made him a full-time closer at the end of July, he had a 2.25 ERA and converted eight of 11 save opportunities. Despite his size, Sanchez is a true fireballer. His fastball consistently works at 95 mph and reaches 97. Unlike several other Cardinals relief prospects, he has the makings of good command to go with his velocity. His sharp slider gives him a second strikeout pitch and is especially tough on righthanders. He has the poise to handle the closer's role. Sanchez's build is a concern for some scouts, who wonder if he can hold up over the long grind of a season. He was able to maintain his velocity through 60 appearances last season, however. His control was an issue at times in Double- A. Sanchez is a candidate for a nonroster invitation to big league camp. While he may open the 2010 season by returning to Double-A, he could make the leap to the big leagues during the summer.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #14 prospect in 2010
  Sanchez broke out as a closer prospect with Springfield at the end of 2009, and he returned to the TL at the beginning of 2010. He injured his ankle and missed a couple of weeks at the beginning of June, then earned a promotion to Triple-A soon after his return. Sanchez is undersized but has a legitimate power arsenal, highlighted by a sinking fastball that usually sits in the mid-90s and peaks at 97 mph. He drives the fastball down in the zone and shows good command of it. Some scouts say his breaking ball, usually described as a slider, works even better as a strikeout pitch. Sanchez steadily has improved his command as he has risen through the Cardinals system, but he still struggles with it at times. His live fastball and willingness to attack the zone should make him an ideal set-up man, with the possibility to close if everything breaks right.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Less than a year after pitching a perfect inning in the 2010 Futures Game, Sanchez made quick work of his major league debut and validated a new frontier for the Cardinals with each pitch. He became the first signee from the organization's expanded Caribbean presence to reach the majors. He received a cameo at closer and settled in as a hard-throwing set-up man before a shoulder injury in mid-June all but ended his season. Scouting Report: Sanchez's stuff is far more imposing than his reed-thin frame. He repeatedly delivers 94-95 mph fastballs and can reach back for upper-90s heat. His fastball has natural movement that he exploits further by commanding the pitch to both sides of the plate and down in the strike zone. Sanchez's hard, quick slider handcuffs righthanders, who hit .136 with 24 strikeouts in 59 at-bats against him in the majors. He already has shown he can dominate big leaguers as long as he's throwing strikes, which becomes a problem at times. The Future: Sanchez's shoulder soreness relented late in the season, though St. Louis left him off its playoff roster. He won't need surgery and should have a normal offseason. He's a near lock to make the big league bullpen in 2012, with his role to be determined.