While Sanchez will likely find himself as high as #2 on many lists, I'm not quite that high on him. The power is undeniable; regardless of league an 18 year old clubbing 17 home runs in a mere 343 plate appearances is something to take note of. However, nearly as noteworthy are his 93 strikeouts and low average, both signs that he has trouble routinely making contact. Perhaps most alarming are his simply outrageous 26 passed balls in 60 games caught. For the sake of perspective, the most passed balls allowed by Jesus Montero, who is often cited for having below-average defense, in a single season was 15 with Scranton Wilkes-Barre in 105 games. In 45 more games, he allowed 11 fewer passed balls in his worst season. That's alarming considering various scouting reports last year were touting Sanchez's defense as a potential plus to his game.
Worst of all might be makeup issues; he reportedly shows little interest in working hard to improve, which really came to a head when his inability to catch breaking balls led him to give up on catching them altogether. You can read a very in depth piece about that HERE, in Minor Matters.Sanchez makes this list in spite of his problems for one reason: he turned 19 a month ago. Immaturity and hitches in his game are to be expected at this age. Somewhere beneath the skin of an unmotivated young man with problems making contact lies a potential superstar. Still, they make him even more of a crap shoot than a prospect already is. With such an uncertain future and his path to a big league starting role blocked until 2018 (assuming he could learn to play 1st and replace Tex, even longer if not), the Yankees may find him most valuable as a trading chip.
#3 is next. If you haven't read our new list since the Montero trade, check out our new #5, Jose Campos. Look for the entire new list here on Bleeding Yankee Blue.
--Grant Cederquist, BYB Staff Writer
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