Sixto Sánchez

The Philadelphia Phillies happened upon Sánchez when they saw him throwing batting practice at a workout for a Cuban catcher the Phillies were scouting in 2014.[3] He signed with the Phillies for a $35,000 signing bonus as an international free agent in February 2015.[4] He made his professional debut as a pitcher that year with the Dominican Summer League Phillies. He had 1–2 win-loss record with a 4.56 earned run average.[1] He pitched in 2016 with the Rookie Gulf Coast Phillies.[5][6][7] He was 5–0 (tied for 4th in the Gulf Coast League in wins) with an 0.50 ERA, a WHIP of 0.759, and a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1] At 17 years of age, his fastball was 97-98 mph.[2] He was named both a Baseball America Rookie All Star, and a Gulf Coast League Post-Season All Star.[1] Baseball America named him the Number 80 prospect in baseball.[8]

Sánchez started 2017 with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, and was promoted to the Class A+ Clearwater Threshers during the season, with whom he was the youngest pitcher in the Florida State League.[9] [10][11][12] On July 30 he was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week.[1] He threw a fastball in the high 90s that reached 102 mph.[9][2] Between the two teams he was 5–7 with a 3.03 ERA, a WHIP of 0.958, and a 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1] Baseball America named him the Number 25 prospect in baseball, MLB.com ranked him as the Number 26 prospect, and MLB Pipeline named him the No. 47 prospect.[13][9][2]

Sánchez entered 2018 as the Phillies number one prospect and one of the top prospects overall in the minors, pitching again for Clearwater.[14] He has been compared to Pedro Martinez.[15] On June 3 he was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, and he was named a Florida State League Mid-Season All Star.[1] The Phillies shut him down after June 3 due to right elbow inflammation.[16] He was 4–3 with a 2.51 ERA, and a 4.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio.[1][13] Baseball America named him the Number 13 prospect in baseball, MLB Pipeline named him the No. 21 prospect, and Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the Number 23 prospect.[13][17]

On February 7, 2019, Sánchez was traded with Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart, and $250,000 in international bonus slot money to the Miami Marlins in exchange for J. T. Realmuto.[18] He began the 2019 season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[19] Sánchez was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[20] In 2019 between Jacksonville and the Class A+ Jupiter Hammerheads he was 8-6 with a 2.76 ERA in 20 starts (114.0 innings).[21]

Sánchez was added to the Marlins 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[22]

On August 20, 2020, Sánchez was promoted to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on August 22, and notched his first career win.[23] Sánchez completed the season with a 3-2 record, and a 3.46 ERA over 39 innings. On October 2, 2020, Sánchez made his postseason debut, going for 5 innings, while allowing no earned runs.