Jesus Sanchez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #8 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45.Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Sanchez signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014 and rose all the way to Triple-A in 2019. The Marlins acquired him along with reliever Ryne Stanek for righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards at the 2019 trade deadline. Sanchez hit respectably the rest of the year at Triple-A New Orleans and made the Marlins’ 60-man player pool in 2020. The Marlins called him up from the alternate training site to make his major league debut in August.
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez generates plenty of bat speed and uses plus raw power to drive the ball to all fields, but he needs more polish as a hitter to go with his outstanding handeye coordination. The 6-foot-3 lefthanded hitter has a very pullheavy approach and struggles with premium velocity, especially on the inner half of the plate. Sanchez’s shortcomings were evident during his brief major league stint, when he went 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts and lost focus and discipline in his approach. Sanchez is a solid defender whose average speed and above-average arm project on an outfield corner.
  THE FUTURE: After an ugly major league debut, Sanchez could use more time at Triple-A before returning to the majors. He projects to join JJ Bleday as one of the Marlins’ starting corner outfielders of the future.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #3 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: One of the top prospects traded at the 2019 deadline, Sanchez joined the Marlins' organization in the deal that sent righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Rays. Sanchez originally signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014, and he received his first taste of Triple-A in 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez has elite bat speed and hand-eye coordination. Armed with plus raw power, the ball routinely jumps off his bat when he makes contact. Sanchez's swing can get too long at times, and he has occasionally struggled against high-end velocity, especially on the inside part of the plate as he's advanced through the upper minors. Defensively, Sanchez has an above-average arm and profiles best as an above-average right fielder. He'll likely settle in as an average runner as he continues to mature.
  
  THE FUTURE: The combination of Sanchez and JJ Bleday gives the Marlins two potential high-end corner outfielders at the top of their system. Sanchez is better suited for a role in right field and is likely a year ahead of Bleday in terms of time line. Sanchez will start 2020 back in Triple-A, just one phone call or injury away from Miami.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Rays went into the penalty box with a massive 2014 international signing class. Despite whiffing on their biggest signing, Adrian Rondon, the class has proven to be an outstanding influx of talent with Ronaldo Hernandez, Diego Castillo and Resly Linares. But the most productive of those signees has been Sanchez, who has hit better than .300 at every stop until a late-season struggle at Double-A Montgomery.
  
  Scouting Report: Sanchez has elite bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination, which gives him a path to being an above-average hitter with 25-plus home run power. He can drive balls in or out of the zone, which is an asset and weakness, because he swings and connects with pitches he should take. Sanchez's barrel control keeps him from striking out too much. Unlike many young lefthanded hitters, he has little trouble hitting lefthanders. He consistently posts some of the best exit velocities in the Rays' system. Sanchez has an odd gait, but he consistently turns in plus run times and is an impressive athlete. Defensively, he should be at least average in right field with an average arm.
  
  The Future: Sanchez will return to Montgomery in 2019. He profiles as an athletic everyday right fielder one whose swing and body type offers reminders of the late Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #5 prospect in 2018
  Sanchez continued his emergence by challenging for the low Class A Midwest League batting crown (.305), ranking as the league's seventh-best prospect, and receiving Bowling Green's player of the year award in 2017. Originally signed for $400,000 in 2014, Sanchez has shown the ability to perform every aspect of the game at a young age. As a 19-year-old in the MWL, Sanchez displayed excellent hand-eye coordination that led to hard and consistent contact, while limiting his strikeout rate to 18 percent. He has a smooth and easy, whip-like swing from the left side and quick wrists that allow him to hit velocity and adjust to offspeed pitches. Most of his power has come when he pulls the ball, but given his age and raw strength, Sanchez should be a run producer at higher levels. His greatest need centers on gaining consistency with his leg kick so as not to drift on his front side. He also needs to improve his overall pitch selection to take full advantage of his high contact rate. Sanchez has a long running stride that generates above-average speed once he gets moving. He moved from center field to left in 2017 and has the range and arm strength to be above-average at the position. The Rays believe that Sanchez has the ability to be a long-term solution in left field, but needs time to get there. He will make the jump to High A Charlotte in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #7 prospect in 2017
  As an amateur, Sanchez originally showcased as a frail switch-hitter. Later in the process he showed improved strength and began hitting exclusively lefthanded. He improved his stock quickly and continued to do so after the Rays signed him for $400,000 in 2014. He hit .329/.351/.549 in 56 games in 2016 at two Rookie levels. Sanchez has an array of tools, but his offensive potential is his most exciting asset. He has a compact swing with balance and rhythm and a well-timed load. He has loose wrists and covers the plate exceptionally well. Sanchez shows rare ability to use the whole field. He has grown into power because he is physically mature, and he projects for plus power. The Rays are impressed with Sanchez's strike-zone awareness and his ability to execute an approach. He is an above-average runner underway, though his first step can be a bit awkward and he'll need to refine his center-field routes and baserunning technique. He has above-average arm strength that he is still learning how to use. Sanchez's loud tools could be refined enough for him to handle an assignment to low Class A Bowling Green at age 19 in 2017.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #31 prospect in 2016
  When the Rays signed Sanchez for $400,000 in 2014, intrigued by his lefthanded bat and projectable body. In his first year in the organization, Sanchez grew about an inch and added 5-10 pounds of muscle to his frame. He has plus raw power that has begun to play in game action, and his sweet stroke allowed him to hit .335 in his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League. Sanchez is an above-average runner and shows flashes in center field, though he may move to right field if he gets bigger and slows down as he matures physically. Sanchez is poised for his state-side debut in 2016. He's likely to start the season in extended spring training before an assignment to a short-season league.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #8 prospect in 2018
  Sanchez stands towards the front of a vastly improved Rays' farm system. He ranked fourth in the FSL in both average (.301) and slugging (.462) this season to earn a bump to Double-A Montgomery in August. Sanchez's offensive tools are impressive. He has barrel control that allows him to make hard contact on a variety of pitches despite an aggressive approach. He walked just 26 times all season but also struck out fewer than 100 times over 117 games. Sanchez came into spring training looking stronger than ever, and it showed with tape-measure home runs in the pitcher-friendly FSL. An unorthodox runner, Sanchez gets down the line in times that grade him as a plus runner. He's adequate defensively in right field, but he could stand to focus more on that aspect of his game. The Rays will have plenty of options bubbling from their farm over the next few years, and Sanchez could hit his way into the team's immediate plans with a big 2019 season.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #7 prospect in 2017
  Sanchez's .305 batting average was the highest by a qualified MWL batter, but the batting title went to Bo Bichette, who batted .384 before he was promoted. Even though Bichette missed qualifying by 61 plate appearances, he could have gone 0-for-61 and still had the higher average. Sanchez has developed average to above-average power and that could continue to improve as he fills out. He stands tall in the box with his long frame, leading to some concerns about whether he can adequately cover the plate. But scouts say he has solid bat-to-ball skills, leading them to project that he should be an average to above hitter. Sanchez has shown he can handle both velocity and spin, though that will be tested as he moves up. He struck out just 18 percent of the time and makes plenty of contact, showing mostly pull power. He has a loose, whippy lefthanded swing. Sanchez's above-average speed plays better underway and in the outfield than as a basestealer. He has a plus arm and should be an average if not better corner defender.
• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #6 prospect in 2016
  When the Rays went over their international bonus pool in 2014, they did it primarily to sign Dominican shortstop Adrian Rondon. They also spent $400,000 that year to sign Sanchez out of the Dominican Republic. Since then, Sanchez's tools have only improved. He's added strength and has developed plus raw power with more room to continue filling out his lean, well-proportioned frame. Sanchez does an excellent job of using his hands with quick bat speed on a loose lefty swing, good bat control and the ability to use the whole field. He can get too aggressive at times and over-swing, but despite not walking much he has shown the ability to recognize pitches. Sanchez spent most of his time in center field, where he has the tools to play. He has an unorthodox gait that affects his first step, but he's an above-average runner underway and has a plus arm, though he needs to improve his accuracy and release. On the basepaths, he's still learning how to read pitchers and get better jumps stealing bases.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #58 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #62 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #49 prospect in 2018

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45.Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Sanchez signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014 and rose all the way to Triple-A in 2019. The Marlins acquired him along with reliever Ryne Stanek for righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards at the 2019 trade deadline. Sanchez hit respectably the rest of the year at Triple-A New Orleans and made the Marlins' 60-man player pool in 2020. The Marlins called him up from the alternate training site to make his major league debut in August.
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez generates plenty of bat speed and uses plus raw power to drive the ball to all fields, but he needs more polish as a hitter to go with his outstanding handeye coordination. The 6-foot-3 lefthanded hitter has a very pullheavy approach and struggles with premium velocity, especially on the inner half of the plate. Sanchez's shortcomings were evident during his brief major league stint, when he went 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts and lost focus and discipline in his approach. Sanchez is a solid defender whose average speed and above-average arm project on an outfield corner.
  THE FUTURE: After an ugly major league debut, Sanchez could use more time at Triple-A before returning to the majors. He projects to join JJ Bleday as one of the Marlins' starting corner outfielders of the future.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45.Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Sanchez signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014 and rose all the way to Triple-A in 2019. The Marlins acquired him along with reliever Ryne Stanek for righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards at the 2019 trade deadline. Sanchez hit respectably the rest of the year at Triple-A New Orleans and made the Marlins’ 60-man player pool in 2020. The Marlins called him up from the alternate training site to make his major league debut in August.
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez generates plenty of bat speed and uses plus raw power to drive the ball to all fields, but he needs more polish as a hitter to go with his outstanding handeye coordination. The 6-foot-3 lefthanded hitter has a very pullheavy approach and struggles with premium velocity, especially on the inner half of the plate. Sanchez’s shortcomings were evident during his brief major league stint, when he went 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts and lost focus and discipline in his approach. Sanchez is a solid defender whose average speed and above-average arm project on an outfield corner.
  THE FUTURE: After an ugly major league debut, Sanchez could use more time at Triple-A before returning to the majors. He projects to join JJ Bleday as one of the Marlins’ starting corner outfielders of the future.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45.Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 55.
  TRACK RECORD: Sanchez signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014 and rose all the way to Triple-A in 2019. The Marlins acquired him along with reliever Ryne Stanek for righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards at the 2019 trade deadline. Sanchez hit respectably the rest of the year at Triple-A New Orleans and made the Marlins’ 60-man player pool in 2020. The Marlins called him up from the alternate training site to make his major league debut in August.
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez generates plenty of bat speed and uses plus raw power to drive the ball to all fields, but he needs more polish as a hitter to go with his outstanding handeye coordination. The 6-foot-3 lefthanded hitter has a very pullheavy approach and struggles with premium velocity, especially on the inner half of the plate. Sanchez’s shortcomings were evident during his brief major league stint, when he went 1-for-25 with 11 strikeouts and lost focus and discipline in his approach. Sanchez is a solid defender whose average speed and above-average arm project on an outfield corner.
  THE FUTURE: After an ugly major league debut, Sanchez could use more time at Triple-A before returning to the majors. He projects to join JJ Bleday as one of the Marlins’ starting corner outfielders of the future.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: One of the top prospects traded at the 2019 deadline, Sanchez joined the Marlins’ organization in the deal that sent righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Rays. Sanchez originally signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014, and he received his first taste of Triple-A in 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez has elite bat speed and hand-eye coordination. Armed with plus raw power, the ball routinely jumps off his bat when he makes contact. Sanchez’s swing can get too long at times, and he has occasionally struggled against high-end velocity, especially on the inside part of the plate as he’s advanced through the upper minors. Defensively, Sanchez has an above-average arm and profiles best as an above-average right fielder. He’ll likely settle in as an average runner as he continues to mature.
  
  THE FUTURE: The combination of Sanchez and JJ Bleday gives the Marlins two potential high-end corner outfielders at the top of their system. Sanchez is better suited for a role in right field and is likely a year ahead of Bleday in terms of time line. Sanchez will start 2020 back in Triple-A, just one phone call or injury away from Miami.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: One of the top prospects traded at the 2019 deadline, Sanchez joined the Marlins' organization in the deal that sent righthanders Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Rays. Sanchez originally signed with the Rays for $400,000 in 2014, and he received his first taste of Triple-A in 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Sanchez has elite bat speed and hand-eye coordination. Armed with plus raw power, the ball routinely jumps off his bat when he makes contact. Sanchez's swing can get too long at times, and he has occasionally struggled against high-end velocity, especially on the inside part of the plate as he's advanced through the upper minors. Defensively, Sanchez has an above-average arm and profiles best as an above-average right fielder. He'll likely settle in as an average runner as he continues to mature.
  
  THE FUTURE: The combination of Sanchez and JJ Bleday gives the Marlins two potential high-end corner outfielders at the top of their system. Sanchez is better suited for a role in right field and is likely a year ahead of Bleday in terms of time line. Sanchez will start 2020 back in Triple-A, just one phone call or injury away from Miami.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Rays went into the penalty box with a massive 2014 international signing class. Despite whiffing on their biggest signing, Adrian Rondon, the class has proven to be an outstanding influx of talent with Ronaldo Hernandez, Diego Castillo and Resly Linares. But the most productive of those signees has been Sanchez, who has hit better than .300 at every stop until a late-season struggle at Double-A Montgomery. Scouting Report: Sanchez has elite bat speed and excellent hand-eye coordination, which gives him a path to being an above-average hitter with 25-plus home run power. He can drive balls in or out of the zone, which is an asset and weakness, because he swings and connects with pitches he should take. Sanchez’s barrel control keeps him from striking out too much. Unlike many young lefthanded hitters, he has little trouble hitting lefthanders. He consistently posts some of the best exit velocities in the Rays’ system. Sanchez has an odd gait, but he consistently turns in plus run times and is an impressive athlete. Defensively, he should be at least average in right field with an average arm. The Future: Sanchez will return to Montgomery in 2019. He profiles as an athletic right fielder.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Sanchez is one of the most talented players in the system. At 20 years old he’s shown the ability to hit and hit for power against both lefthanders and righthanders because of an innate ability to manipulate the barrel. He’s a solid defender in the outfield and earns above-average marks for his footspeed and throwing arm. There’s polish to be added, but he’s an exciting player.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: As an amateur, Sanchez originally showcased as a frail switch-hitter. Later in the process he showed improved strength and began hitting exclusively lefthanded. He improved his stock quickly and continued to do so after the Rays signed him for $400,000 in 2014. He hit .329/.351/.549 in 56 games in 2016 at two Rookie levels. Scouting Report: Sanchez has an array of tools, but his offensive potential is his most exciting asset. He has a compact swing with balance and rhythm and a well-timed load. He has loose wrists and covers the plate exceptionally well. Sanchez shows rare ability to use the whole field. He has grown into power because he is physically mature, and he projects for plus power. The Rays are impressed with Sanchez's strike-zone awareness and his ability to execute an approach. He is an above-average runner underway, though his first step can be a bit awkward and he'll need to refine his center-field routes and baserunning technique. He has above-average arm strength that he is still learning how to use.
  
  The Future: Sanchez's loud tools could be refined enough for him to handle an assignment to low Class A Bowling Green at age 19 in 2017, though he has no cold-weather playing experience yet.