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YUNESKY SANCHEZ
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SHORTSTOP
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Born: May 3, 1984 Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 210 Bats: Right Throws: Right Signed: Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks How Acquired: Signed as minor league free agent, 2011 Born: Cardenas, Cuba Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Sanchez originally signed with Arizona after defecting from Cuba. He was 22 by the time he signed and was not considered a top prospect. Despite his size, he played mainly short initially and the D’backs considered him a good defensive player. After some problems with leg injuries in 2009, though, he played mainly at third. Arizona released him after the 2010 season and he played in the Atlantic League in 2011 until the Pirates signed him in mid-July.
2007: Spent his first season in low A and hit for average, but not much else with a 282/323/353 line. He was difficult to strike out, with fewer than one every 11 ABs. Played SS regularly. 2008: Jumped to AA and again hit for average and seldom fanned, but didn’t draw walks or hit for much power (296/333/348). Played short most of the year. 2009: Sanchez missed much of 2009 with a series of leg injuries. He served as a utility player when he was able to play, spending more or less equal time at all four infield positions. His hitting slipped a bit to 266/315/352. 2010: Sanchez reached AAA and started showing a little more power. He had a good season, hitting 282/332/411 and continuing to strike out only rarely. He played mostly third. Despite the improvement, Airzona released Sanchez in October. 2011: Played in Atlantic League before signing with Pirates and hit .403 with good power. The Pirates assigned him to Altoona. They needed an infielder because they’d just promoted Jordy Mercer to AAA and seen Jeremy Farrell go on the disabled list. He reverted to his previous form of hitting for average, not walking or striking out much, and not hitting for a lot of power. His line was 299/331/388. With Farrell out he played a lot at third, as well as a few times at first. Sanchez is not eligible for minor league free agency for several more years, so he could stick around as an organizational infielder. |
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STATS
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| Baseball Reference–Minors Fangraphs MiLB.com 2011 Atlantic League stats |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION
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| 2012: Minor League Contract |
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PLAYER INFORMATION
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| Signing Bonus: $40,000 MiLB Debut: 2007 MLB Debut: N/A MiLB FA Eligible: 2014 MLB FA Eligible: N/A Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible Added to 40-Man: N/A Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
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TRANSACTIONS
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| October 30, 2006: Signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent. October 30, 2010: Released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. July 16, 2011: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent. |
