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Tony Sanchez | Catcher

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age / DOB:  (25) / 5/20/1988
Ht / Wt:  5'11' / 225
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
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Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates could call up Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
With Russell Martin (neck) sidelined, the Pirates are considering calling up Sanchez if Saturday's game is rained out and a doubleheader is played on Sunday. The fourth overall pick in 2009, Sanchez is batting .269/.380/.449 at the Triple-A level. He could get an extended look if Martin lands on the DL. May 11 - 9:49 AM
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter

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Player News

Date:
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Tony Sanchez tripled in two runs and walked Sunday in the Pirates' 8-6 win over the Astros.

When the Pirates made Sanchez the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, they were hoping he'd be their starting catcher by now. Instead, he looks like a future backup at best. He'll be the starter at Triple-A Indianapolis this year.
Mar 3 - 4:53 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates purchased the contract of C Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Sanchez, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 draft, was a given to be protected. The 24-year-old's star has faded a bit and he struggled with the bat following his promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis this season, but he has been praised for his defense and game-calling. There's a chance we could see him in the big leagues at some point in 2013.
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 04:50:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez has been promoted to Triple-A.

Sanchez, 24, was the fourth pick in 2009's First-Year Player Draft. He batted just .241 with a .658 OPS in 118 games last year with Double-A Altoona, causing him to drop from Baseball America's 46th overall prospect prior in 2011 to unranked this winter. Sanchez, however, improved to a .277/.373/.387 slash line over 158 plate appearances this year to earn the promotion. We aren't terribly excited about his prospects, as a touted 24-year-old at Double-A should be expected to shred that level's pitching, but it isn't as though Pittsburgh has a glut of catching talent above him.
Source: Cory Giger on Twitter
Sun, Jun 3, 2012 10:48:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez suffered a broken jaw earlier this offseason in a bar brawl.

"Tony continues to develop as a player," Pirates GM Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, refusing to elaborate on the details of the fight. "As with any young player, there are good days and days when we need to make adjustments. We are expecting Tony to come into spring training ready to go and ready to have a great season." The former No. 4 overall pick batted just .241 with a .658 OPS in 118 games last year with Double-A Altoona. He was suspended three games in May for criticizing umpires on his personal Twitter account.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Tue, Jan 31, 2012 08:46:00 AM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Despite injuries to their top two catchers, the Pirates will not rush prospect Tony Sanchez to the majors.

Sanchez is off to a so-so start at Double-A Altoona, batting .262/.370/.341 with two homers and 20 RBI. "Tony has made great progress on all fronts," GM Neal Huntington said. "We just didn't feel like this was the right time to bring him to the Major Leagues. We've still got some things that he needs to accomplish before he goes to Triple-A. Tony is still driving the baseball. We're trying to get him to stay in the middle of the field. Sometimes young guys when their power numbers are down try to compensate by trying to yank a little bit more."
Source: Pirates.mlb.com
Sun, Jun 12, 2011 03:07:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates prospect Tony Sanchez has been benched three games for using Twitter to criticize umpires.

Sanchez, the 4th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, has since shut down his Twitter account. The promising young catcher is batting .274/.384/.349 with one homer and 14 RBI in 31 games at Double-A Altoona. He should be able to quickly put this incident behind him.
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
Thu, May 19, 2011 06:01:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

The Pirates have invited Tony Sanchez to join the team at spring training.

The Pirates selected Sanchez with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 Amateur Draft. Despite being injured half of the the 2010 season, the Single-A Bradenton catcher managed a 314/.414/.454 batting line with four homers and 35 RBI over 207 at-bats. Despite the invitation, this season he is expected to continue developing in the minors.
Source: Bradenton Times
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 03:02:00 AM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

The Pirates may ask catching prospect Tony Sanchez (jaw) to play winter ball.

"He had such a great first half, we want to keep the momentum going," Pirates GM Neal Huntington said Sunday. Sanchez suffered a broken jaw when he was hit in the face with a pitch while playing for Single-A Bradenton in June. He eventually underwent surgery that will keep him sidelined through at least September, and perhaps much longer.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mon, Jul 19, 2010 10:23:00 AM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates general Neal Huntington said prospect catcher Tony Sanchez (jaw) could play again this season.

Sanchez underwent jaw surgery three weeks ago and just last week it was reported that he was expected to miss the rest of the season. If last year's No. 4 overall pick manages to make it back, he would likely only play for the season's final two weeks.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fri, Jul 16, 2010 08:52:00 AM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates prospect catcher Tony Sanchez (jaw) will miss the rest of the season.

Sanchez, 22, underwent jaw surgery a little over two weeks ago and hoped to return at some point late next month, however the Pirates have decided to shut him down. Last year's No. 4 overall pick was batting .314/.414/.454 with four homers and 35 RBI over 207 at-bats with Single-A Bradenton this season.
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
Mon, Jul 12, 2010 05:17:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates prospect catcher Tony Sanchez is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing jaw surgery Thursday.

Sanchez sustained two small fractures to the left side of his jaw when he was hit in the face by a pitch while playing with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday. It's a tough blow to the 22-year-old's development, but there's a chance he will be able to return before the end of the minor league season. Highly-regarded for his glove, last year's No. 4 overall pick has a .312/.413/.494 batting line over his first 465 plate appearances in the minors.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 09:07:00 AM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Tony Sanchez has been diagnosed with a broken jaw and will have surgery on Thursday that could cost him the rest of the 2010 season.

Sanchez was hospitalized after getting hit in the face by a pitch while playing at Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday. He was drafted fourth overall in last year's draft, so this is a setback for both the Pirates as an organization and Sanchez himself. The 22-year-old was hitting .314/.414/.454.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 05:38:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

A new scan on Pirates prospect catcher Tony Sanchez revealed two possible fractures in his left cheek.

A specialist was expected to review the CT scans before an official diagnosis is released. Sanchez, who was selected as the No. 4 overall pick last season, was hit in the face by a pitch during Monday's game with High-A Bradenton.
Source: Rob Biertempfel on Twitter
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 07:39:00 PM
Tony Sanchez - C - Pirates

Pirates prospect catcher Tony Sanchez was hospitalized after being hit in the face by a pitch while playing for High-A Bradenton on Tuesday.

Fortunately, Sanchez is alert and the injury is not considered to be serious. It's just the latest bit of bad luck for last year's first-round pick, as he missed some time earlier this month due to concussion-like symptoms after being plunked in the head. The 22-year-old backstop is batting .314/.414/.454 with four homers and 35 RBI over 207 at-bats this season.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 06:31:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Russell Martin
2Michael McKenry
1B1Garrett Jones
2Gaby Sanchez
2B1Neil Walker
2Jordy Mercer
SS1Clint Barmes
2John McDonald
3Chase d'Arnaud
3B1Pedro Alvarez
2Brandon Inge
LF1Starling Marte
CF1Andrew McCutchen
RF1Travis Snider
2Jose Tabata
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1A.J. Burnett
2Wandy Rodriguez
3James McDonald
4Francisco Liriano
5Charlie Morton
6Jeff Karstens
7Jeff Locke
8Jeanmar Gomez
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Jason Grilli
2Mark Melancon
3Tony Watson
4Justin Wilson
5Vin Mazzaro
6Bryan Morris
7Jose Contreras
8Jared Hughes