Angels’ Jadiel Sanchez Begins Tapping Into Power
Plate discipline has always been a strength for Jadiel Sanchez. Now that his power is trending up, the Angels believe that the best is yet to come for the 22-year-old right fielder.
“Usually, the last thing to come for a young hitter is the power,” Angels minor league field coordinator Joe Kruzel said. “He has a good understanding of the strike zone and makes good decisions.
“As he gets older, more mature and more experienced, as he gets into his legs a little more, you’ll start seeing more power more consistently.”
This season Sanchez hit .297/.378/.475 with 11 home runs in 105 games for Low-A Inland Empire. He drew 47 walks against 64 strikeouts.
The Phillies drafted Sanchez in the 12th round in 2019 out of a Puerto Rico high school. The Angels acquired him along with Mickey Moniak in the 2022 trade deadline deal for Noah Syndergaard.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound, switch-hitting Sanchez hit 10 of 11 homers and made more contact (14% strikeouts) from the left side.
“The majority of his power came from the left side, but his righthanded swing is good,” Kruzel said. “He just didn’t have many at-bats from the right side.”
Sanchez has decent speed, “but he’s not a burner,” Kruzel said. “I think he’s intelligent. He runs the bases well.”
He’s a capable defender in both corner outfield spots with a strong, accurate arm.
“He covers a lot of ground and has really learned how to cut the distance down with the angles,” Kruzel said.
“He made a heck of a diving catch coming in and down the line in the (California League) playoffs, (then) got up and threw a bullet to home plate.”
Sanchez headed to the Arizona Fall League in early October and is expected to start 2024 at High-A Tri-City or possibly Double-A Rocket City if he has a great spring.
