Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Potential 2022 Lineup for Double-A Altoona

Left Field: Lolo Sanchez

Lolo Sanchez has been part of the Pirate system for a handful of years now. He debuted as a 17-year-old back in 2016. After a handful of solid, but unimpressive years in the minors, Sanchez looked to put it all together this year at Greensboro.

In 437 plate appearances, Sanchez boasted a .264/.372/.453 line, .365 wOBA, and 124 wRC+. The big breakout for Sanchez was his power output. He smacked 17 homers and put up a .190 isolated slugging percentage. From 2016 through 2019, Sanchez had just 15 home runs and never put up an ISO above .150 throughout an entire season.

Sanchez’s big power boost didn’t take away from his ability to avoid K’s and draw walks. His 12.6% walk rate was the best of his career since 2016. His 16.5% strikeout rate was a career-worst, but that’s still well above average. It’s also the third season in a row he swiped 30 or more bases.

Sanchez’s power boost doesn’t look like a complete fluke. His 33.9% ground ball rate is the best of his career by nearly 10%. It’s also the first time he put up a like drive rateabove 20% (25.1%) and FB% above 40% (41%). Most hitters with a 40%+ fly ball rate hit at least 18 home runs in full seasons in the majors.

Sanchez is a plus defender and could bring both power and speed to the table. The Pittsburgh Pirates have many different talented outfield prospects, and Sanchez could be another if he can show he can hit in the upper minors next season.