Tony Sanchez Fired Up For Arizona Fall League Play
By Tom Smith
Tony Sanchez, the Pirates backstop of the future, gets back on the field in the Arizona Fall League today. Sanchez, Andrew Lambo, Josh Harrison, and Jordy Mercer will play for the Mesa Solar Sox. The Solar Sox play three games in the first three days with two against Phoenix and then the Sox take on Surprise Thursday.
Two Pirates pitchers will also
be on the roster, Justin Wilson and Aaron Pribanic.
The Solar Sox have two other catchers on the roster, but only four outfielders which should provide Lambo ample playing time. He will be in the outfield with Phillies prospect John Mayberry. Casey Kopitzke is the manager, with Mark Parent as his pitching coach, and Ricky Bones the pitching coach for Mesa.
Sanchez was hit by a high and inside pitch on June 22. He hasn’t played in a game since. He had 17 doubles, four homers, and an OPS of .870 at the time of the injury which required his jaw to be wired shut.
Obviously, Sanchez is fired up about his opportunity to get back on the diamond and it was evident when he spoke to MLB in this article.
"“It’s going to be another wonderful opportunity, I try to compare it to the Cape [Cod League]. It’s more competitive out there now, but I’m feeling the same way as when I found out I was going to play in the Cape. You’re looking forward to playing against the best guys in the country.”—Tony Sanchez"
An outstanding AFL season would ease many Pirates fans minds after watching Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit behind the dish this season.
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We think this is cool. Some residents of Madrid didn’t. Resident Evil could easily relate to Pirates fans enduring 18 years of losing couldn’t it?