Tony Sanchez (baseball)

Jorge Anthony Sanchez (born May 20, 1988) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. Sanchez was selected fourth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with them in 2013. He has also played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves.

Tony Sanchez
Sanchez with the Round Rock Express
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1988-05-20) May 20, 1988
Miami, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 23, 2013, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Batting average.257
Hits37
Home runs4
Runs batted in18
Teams

Early career

High school

Sanchez was a three-time All-Dade County selection at Killian High School in Miami. He was team captain in 2005 and 2006, and led his team in every offensive category in 2006. Killian advanced to the Florida state finals in 2004 and 2005.[1]

College

Sanchez has established himself as one of the most prolific hitters in Boston College Eagles baseball history. He ranks fifth all-time in home runs with 24 and runs batted in (RBI) with 124, sixth in hits with 202 and eighth in runs with 125.

In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.[2]

In 2009, Sanchez ranked eighth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in runs (63), ninth in home runs (14), tenth in doubles (19) and slugging percentage (.614), twelfth in total bases (140), 16th in batting (.346) and 17th in hits (79) and on-base percentage (.443). He has also thrown out the most runners in the conference this season, catching opponents stealing 19 times. His 63 runs this season are a Boston College single-season record breaking the previous record of 60 runs held by Steve Langone and Sean McGowan which has held since 1999. His 14 home runs are the third-most in a single season and his 79 hits are fourth.

Sanchez is one of three finalists for the 2009 Johnny Bench Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate catcher as well as being named to the 2009 Louisville Slugger All-America Third Team and tabbed as one of 30 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. He was also the first player from Boston College to be voted to the All-ACC First Team. He also played for the Battle Creek Bombers of the Northwoods League.

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates
Sanchez with the Pirates in 2013

Sanchez was selected 4th overall in the 2009 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and became just the third catcher out of Boston College to be selected in the MLB Draft, and also the highest draft pick in Boston College history.[3]

Sanchez made his professional debut for the Short-Season A State College Spikes on June 20, 2009.[4] He played in four games for the Spikes before being promoted to the Single-A West Virginia Power. Sanchez finished the 2009 season with the Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats, and in 48 combined games that year, hit .309 with 7 home runs and 48 RBI.[4] He played the entire 2010 season with the Bradenton Marauders, catching the inaugural game with the Pirates new Advanced-A affiliate.[5] In 59 games, Sanchez batted .314 with 4 home runs and 35 RBI.[4] In the offseason he played in 18 games for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL), batting .206 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI.[4]

Continuing his progression through the minor leagues, Sanchez played the 2011 season with the Double-A Altoona Curve. In a career-high 118 games, he hit .241 with 5 home runs and 44 RBI.[4] Sanchez split time in the 2012 season with Altoona and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He would bat .251 with 8 home runs and 43 RBI in 102 combined games.[4] In November 2012, the Pirates added Sanchez to the 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[6]

On June 21, 2013, Sanchez was officially recalled to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He recorded his first Major League hit on June 23, 2013 – a double off of the Angels right hander Joe Blanton. The ball that Sanchez hit got stuck in the scoreboard, and after the Pirates finished batting, officials went out and retrieved the ball.[7] He would appear in 22 games with the Pirates in 2013, hitting .233 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI.[8] In the minor leagues that year, Sanchez hit .282 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI.[4] 2014 again saw Sanchez split time between the Major and minor leagues. He would play in 26 games for the Pirates, and bat .267 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI.[8] In Triple-A Indianapolis, Sanchez batted .235 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI. During the offseason, he appeared in 10 games for the Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter League.[4]

Sanchez played the majority of the 2015 season in Indianapolis, hitting .236 with 3 home runs and 47 RBI in 94 games.[4] He played just 3 MLB games for the Pirates in 2015, batting .375.[8] On January 6, 2016, Sanchez was designated for assignment.[9] He was released on January 13.[10]

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 19, 2016, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training.[11] He was released on July 28.[12]

San Francisco Giants

Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on August 3, 2016.[13] Sanchez was promoted to the major league on September 27, 2016.[14]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On December 2, 2016, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[15]

Atlanta Braves

On August 31, 2017, Sanchez was traded to the Braves for Brandon Phillips [16] He became a free agent on October 24, 2017.

Cincinnati Reds

On February 25, 2018, Sanchez signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. [17]

Texas Rangers

On April 16, 2018, Sanchez was traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018. Sanchez re-signed on a minor-league deal on January 22, 2019. He was assigned to AA Frisco RoughRiders for the 2019 season, hitting .246/.295/.346/.641 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[18]

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References
  1. "Tony Sanchez Baseball Profile - Perfect Game USA". perfectgame.org.
  2. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. "Pirates agree to terms with top Draft pick". Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  4. "Tony Sanchez Register Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. Lembo, Jason (April 9, 2010). "Marauders score resounding win in debut". The Bradenton Herald. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  6. "Pirates set 40-man roster". November 20, 2012.
  7. "Pirates Notebook: Sanchez called up again, this time to play". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  8. "Tony Sanchez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  9. Gleeman, Aaron (January 6, 2016). "Pirates cut former top prospect Tony Sanchez". mlb.nbcsports.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  10. Adams, Steve (January 13, 2016). "Pirates Release Tony Sanchez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  11. Ashbourne, Nick (February 19, 2016). "Blue Jays sign catcher Tony Sanchez to minor-league deal". Sportsnet. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. "Buffalo Bisons on Twitter". Twitter. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  13. "Giants' Tony Sanchez: Signed to minor-league contract". cbssports.com. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  14. Wise, Justin. "Giants get infielder Beckham from Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  15. Todd, Jeff (December 3, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/3/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  16. "Angels to Acquire Brandon Phillips".
  17. "Transactions".
  18. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
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