Jonathan Sanchez Stats & Scouting Report

IP	786
ERA	4.706
WHIP	1.464
BB/9	5.004
SO/9	9.115

Full name Jonathan Omar Sánchez
Born 11/19/1982 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Ohio Dominican
Debut 05/28/2006
Drafted in the 27th round (820th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2004.

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LHP Jonathan Sanchez emerged as Ohio Dominican's ace showcasing an 89-91 mph fastball that enabled him to strike out hitters at the rate of 13.6 per nine innings.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Sanchez profiles as a quality starter, but the Giants' bullpen need was so acute that they moved him to short relief after three dominating Double-A starts last year. He was in the big leagues a few weeks later. He finished the year in the San Francisco rotation, though he was much more effective coming out of the bullpen. Sanchez's low-90s fastball is sneaky-fast and can hit 95 mph on occasion. He partners it with a plus changeup that has fooled hitters at every level. The Giants aren't sure if Sanchez is ready to shoulder a full-season workload. He never has thrown more than 126 innings in a season and he has trouble maintaining his velocity when he's used on consecutive days. He also throws a slider but hasn't mastered it, in part because it's hard to stay on top of it with his low three-quarters delivery. Because he worked just 95 innings in 2006, the Giants had no reservations about letting Sanchez play winter ball in his native Puerto Rico. With a solid spring, he'll crack their rotation as a fifth starter.
Sanchez starred at NAIA power Ohio Dominican despite a delivery that left him pushing the ball. Scout Sean O'Connor recognized a player with arm strength and mechanics that could be fixed, and the Giants stole Sanchez in the 27th round in 2004. He finished his first full pro season with two electric starts in the high Class A California League playoffs, helping San Jose win the title. Since Sanchez joined the Giants, he has made dramatic progress incorporating his lower half into his delivery. The change has pushed the velocity on his fastball consistently to the 93-94 mph range with excellent life and sink. He has good arm speed on his changeup, which can be a plus pitch. Sanchez' low arm angle means he must be mechanically sound in order to stay on top of his curveball. When he doesn't, his curve flattens out and is hittable. He still needs to be more consistent with his delivery in order to improve his command. With an arm action and velocity reminiscent of Oliver Perez, Sanchez has excited the Giants and could move quickly. He'll return to high Class A to start 2006.
On the second day of the 2004 draft, San Francisco looked to NAIA power Ohio Dominican for a pair of picks, taking Sanchez in the 27th round and righthander Benny Cepeda in the 48th. Sanchez, who holds school records for strikeouts in a game (16), season (105) and career (311), helped pitch the Panthers to three straight NAIA World Series from 2001-03. He impressed the Giants with his aptitude in instructional league, then drew the attention of scouts in winter ball by having one of the best fastballs in a down year in his native Puerto Rico. Sanchez has a loose, quick arm that generates 92-94 mph heat despite his slight frame. His fastball is a swing-and-miss pitch when he commands it. He has to iron out his mechanics and hone his curveball. Sanchez also will have to work on his changeup to remain a starter in pro ball. He'll pitch in the low Class A rotation in 2005.

Minor League Top Prospects

Sanchez' rapid ascent to the big leagues is a tribute to outstanding scouting as well as player development. A 27th-round pick out of NAIA power Ohio Dominican in 2004, he improved his delivery, which in turn boosted his velocity and command. He dominated the EL in the first six weeks of the season and earned a quick callup to San Francisco, where he didn't allow an earned run in his first 14 appearances. Sanchez moved into the Giants rotation in September and with a feel for three pitches and a low-90s fastball, that's where he should stay. His changeup has above-average sink and his slider has hard, late bite when he stays on top of it. His command is erratic at times, and he'll need to spot his pitches more effectively in order to remain a starter.