Ricardo Sánchez (baseball)

Ricardo José Sánchez Lugo (born April 11, 1997) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ricardo Sánchez
Sánchez with the Florida Fire Frogs in 2017
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1997-04-11) April 11, 1997 (age 27)
Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: August 17, 2020, for the St. Louis Cardinals
KBO: May 11, 2023, for the Hanwha Eagles
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average6.75
Strikeouts4
KBO statistics
(through June 17, 2024)
Win–loss record9–11
Earned run average3.91
Strikeouts155
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Venezuela
15U Baseball World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2012 Chihuahua Team

Career

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Amateur career

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Sánchez was named the most valuable player of the 2012 15U Baseball World Championship in Mexico. He pitched six innings in the championship game against a Cuban team led by Yordan Álvarez to earn the win over opposing starting pitcher Johan Oviedo.[1]

Los Angeles Angels

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Sánchez signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on July 2, 2013. He made his professional debut in 2014 with the AZL Angels and spent the whole season there, going 2–2 with a 3.49 ERA in 12 games (nine starts).

Atlanta Braves

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On January 8, 2015, the Angels traded Sánchez to the Atlanta Braves for Kyle Kubitza and Nate Hyatt.[2] In 2015, Sánchez played for the Rome Braves where he was 1–6 with a 5.45 ERA in ten starts, and in 2016, he returned to Rome, going 7–10 with a 4.75 ERA in 24 games with 23 being starts. He spent 2017 with the Florida Fire Frogs where he compiled a 4–12 record with a 4.95 ERA in 22 games (21 starts).[3]

The Braves added Sánchez to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[4] He spent 2018 with the Mississippi Braves, going 2–5 with a 4.06 ERA in 13 starts.[5]

Seattle Mariners

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The Seattle Mariners acquired Sánchez for cash considerations on November 28, 2018.[6][7] Upon joining the organization, Sánchez was considered by MLB.com to be the Mariners' 23rd-ranked prospect.[8] Sánchez was assigned to the Arkansas Travelers at the start of the 2019 season.[9][10] Sanchez was designated for assignment by the Mariners on January 30, 2020.

St. Louis Cardinals

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On February 6, 2020, Sánchez was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. On July 4, 2020, it was announced that Sánchez had tested positive for COVID-19.[11] On August 15, Sánchez was promoted to the major leagues. He made his major league debut the next day against the Chicago Cubs, pitching 2 scoreless innings. On October 20, 2020, Sánchez was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

On April 30, 2021, Sánchez re-signed with the Cardinals. He did not play in a game in 2021 due to injury.[12] On March 30, 2022, Sánchez was released by the Cardinals organization.[13]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On April 1, 2022, Sánchez signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.[14] He made 21 starts for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, pitching to a 6–4 record and 4.79 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 92.0 innings of work.

Detroit Tigers

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On August 14, 2022, the Phillies traded Sánchez to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations.[15] Sánchez closed out the year starting 5 games for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, working to a 1–1 record and 5.55 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched. He was released on October 27.

Chicago White Sox

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On February 23, 2023, Sánchez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[16] He made 3 appearances for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits with 8 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

Hanwha Eagles

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On April 19, 2023, Sanchez signed a $400k contract with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.[17] In 24 starts for the Eagles, he recorded a 7–8 record and 3.79 ERA with 99 strikeouts across 126.0 innings of work.

On December 26, 2023, Sánchez re–signed with Hanwha on a one–year, $750,000 contract.[18] On June 16, 2024, he was declared inactive due to elbow pains, and was temporarily replaced by Ryan Weiss.[19]

References

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  1. ^ "Venezuela upsets Cuba to win I IBAF 15U Baseball World Championship". World Baseball Softball Confederation. August 27, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Bowman, Mark (January 20, 2016). "Braves acquire promising lefty pitching prospect Ricardo Sanchez from Angels | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ricardo Sanchez Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  4. ^ Zach Dillard (November 21, 2017). "Braves add 4 pitchers to 40-man roster before deadline". Foxsports.com. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  5. ^ "Ricardo Sanchez Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Johns, Greg (November 28, 2019). "Mariners trade for pitching prospect Sanchez". MLB.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  7. ^ Divish, Ryan (November 29, 2018). "Mariners acquire left-handed pitcher Ricardo Sanchez from the Braves". Seattle Times. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Muck, Jeremy (April 23, 2019). "Sanchez gets no support in Travelers' shutout loss". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "2019 Opening Travs Roster Announced". MILB.com. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  10. ^ Boutwell, Christian (April 4, 2019). "New, old faces dot Travs' 2019 roster". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  11. ^ Schaeffer, Brenden. "Cardinals announce two players have tested positive for COVID-19". KMOV.com. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Ricardo Sánchez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  13. ^ "Cardinals Release Lefty Ricardo Sànchez". April 2022.
  14. ^ "Ricardo Sánchez Stats, Fantasy & News".
  15. ^ "Tigers Acquire Ricardo Sanchez From Phillies".
  16. ^ "White Sox's Ricardo Sanchez: Inks minor-league deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  17. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/kbos-hanwha-eagles-sign-ricardo-sanchez-release-burch-smith.html
  18. ^ "Hanwha Eagles re-sign Ricardo Sanchez on $750,000 deal". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  19. ^ "Hanwha Eagles sign U.S. minor leaguer Ryan Weiss as temporary foreign player". m-en.yna.co.kr. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
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