Sanchez began making his mark when was 12 while playing for Venezuela in international play, and the Mariners signed him for $2.5 million in 2011. He got a late start at low Class A Clinton in 2013 as he returned from offseason appendicitis, but he recovered to throw a nine-inning no-hitter on July 18 against Lansing. Sanchez's wife and mother witnessed the gem as they had flown in from Venezuela the day before. What stands out most about Sanchez is his thick, barrel-chested body. However, he is much more muscular than overweight, and one scout compared him physically to former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis, a nickname his short-season Everett teammates hung on him in 2012. Sanchez pitched well with less stuff in 2013, pitching off an 88-91 mph fastball that touched 94. His changeup, which flashes above-average, and curveball also were ordinary. What makes his three pitches play up, though, is pinpoint control. He pounds the bottom half of the zone and throws them all on a downhill angle. Sanchez will move up to high Class A High Desert in 2014, a difficult environment for even the best of pitching prospects. He'll have to tighten up his secondary stuff to achieve his mid-rotation ceiling, but he has the pitchability to move quickly if he does.
The best pitcher on the international market in 2011, Sanchez signed for $2.5 million, the most the Mariners ever have spent on a foreign amateur. Assigned to the short-season Northwest League for his pro debut, at 17 he was the youngest player in a circuit where the average pitcher was 21. He finished second in the NWL in innings (85) and strikeouts (69). Everett teammates called him "Ray Lewis" after the Baltimore Ravens linebacker because Sanchez is a tough competitor with broad shoulders, a powerful lower half and long arms with huge hands. He pitches at 90-94 mph with his fastball and can spot it on both sides of the plate. He loves to throw his above-average changeup, which has nice fade. Sanchez throws both a curveball and slider, but the pitches tend to blend together. Seattle wants him to focus on the slider for now. He also needs to work on repeating his delivery and some of the finer aspects of pitching. He shows poise beyond his years when it comes to adding and subtracting from his pitches to keep hitters off balance. Sanchez's physicality, stuff and feel will allow him to handle a full-season assignment to low Class A Clinton in 2013. While he doesn't have a lot of projection remaining in his chiseled frame, he profiles as a solid No. 3 starter.
The Mariners are one of the biggest players on the international market, and they landed the best pitcher in the 2011 class in Sanchez. It cost them $2.5 million, the most they've ever spent on a foreign amateur. Venezuelan scouts viewed him as the nation's top prospect since he was 13 and the second-youngest player on Venezuela's 14-and-under team at hte COPABE Pan American championships in 2008. That squad also included Blue Jays righthander Ardonys Cardona and Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor. Sanchez struck out eight in a five-inning no-hitter against Ecuador, missing a perfect game when he hit a batter. He has a stout, muscular frame with sloped shoulders and large hands. He already shows impressive velocity, sitting at 92-94 in instructional league. He has a loose arm with an easy delivery, and his atheticism helps him throw his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate. Sanchez's advanced feel for pitching stands out. He already flashes an above-average changeup and shows the ability to spin a breaking ball well. He threw a hard slider before signing but has worked with his curveball more since turning pro. His curve has sharp break and he locates it well. Sanchez's body is relatively filled out and he won't gain much more velocity as he gets older. His relatively short stature also limits the plane on his fastball, which can flatten out at times and become hittable. Sanchez likely will begin 2012 in extended spring training to work on the nuances of pitching before reporting to the Arizona League at age 17 in June.
Minor League Top Prospects
Sanchez showed why he ranked as the top pitcher on the international amateur market in 2011 and received a $2.5 million bonus. The youngest player in the league, he more than held his own and finishing second with 69 strikeouts Sanchez's pitches off a 90-94 mph fastball and mixes in a hard slurve and a changeup that gets lefthanders out. Stout and muscular with very long arms and huge hands, he's physically maxed out and unlikely to gain more velocity. But if he repeats his delivery better and improves his control and secondary pitches, he'll profile as a mid-rotation starter. "He's so beyond his years, it's unbelievable," Eugene manager Pat Murphy said. "He adds and subtracts, he locates. He could pitch at high-A right now, no doubt. He just dominates because he can really pitch, it's not just stuff."
Scouting Reports
Background: The best pitcher on the international market in 2011, Sanchez signed for $2.5 million, the most the Mariners ever have spent on a foreign amateur. Assigned to the short-season Northwest League for his pro debut, at 17 he was the youngest player in a circuit where the average pitcher was 21. He finished second in the NWL in innings (85) and strikeouts (69).
Scouting Report: Everett teammates called him "Ray Lewis"after the Baltimore Ravens linebacker because Sanchez is a tough competitor with broad shoulders, a powerful lower half and long arms with huge hands. He pitches at 90-94 mph with his fastball and can spot it on both sides of the plate. He loves to throw his above-average changeup, which has nice fade. Sanchez throws both a curveball and slider, but the pitches tend to blend together. Seattle wants him to focus on the slider for now. He also needs to work on repeating his delivery and some of the finer aspects of pitching. He shows poise beyond his years when it comes to adding and subtracting from his pitches to keep hitters off balance.
The Future: Sanchez's physicality, stuff and feel will allow him to handle a full-season assignment to low Class A Clinton in 2013. While he doesn't have a lot of projection remaining in his chiseled frame, he profiles as a solid No. 3 starter.
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