The Marlins have gone the entire season thus far without one of their most promising young players, injured right-hander Sixto Sanchez, and his return is not imminent. General manager Kim Ng told Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald and other reporters that Sanchez is “still a ways out” in his recovery from shoulder inflammation.
Health has been an issue since last month for Sanchez, who started the spring behind schedule because of COVID-19 protocols and didn’t make his exhibition debut until March 15. The Marlins optioned Sanchez to the minors before the regular season to let him continue building up arm strength, but his shoulder began bothering him during a simulated game on April 1.
Naturally, the Marlins aren’t going to rush Sanchez back, as the 22-year-old is among their most valuable building blocks. Originally acquired in a 2019 trade that sent star catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Phillies, Sanchez has so far lived up to the considerable hype he garnered as a prospect. Sanchez debuted in the majors last year with 39 innings of 3.46 ERA/4.18 SIERA ball and averaged just under 98 mph on his fastball. While Sanchez’s elite velocity didn’t lead to a high strikeout percentage (20.9), a 58.0 percent groundball rate helped him keep runs off the board and finish in a seventh-place tie for National League Rookie of the Year honors.
To its credit, Miami’s rotation has opened 2021 well without Sanchez and fellow righty Elieser Hernandez, who has been on the injured list since April 5 with a biceps issue. Thanks largely to Sandy Alcantara, Trevor Rogers (who threw seven shutout innings against the Orioles on Wednesday) and Pablo Lopez, the Marlins’ starting staff has notched a 3.39 ERA/3.98 SIERA through the first 17 games of the season.
Marlins are being smart by doing this. Hate to see him end up as the next pitcher out for the season with a rotator cuff or labrum issue because they brought him back too early.
Why haven’t they put him on the IL? They could put him on the IL right now and he would still be eligible at any time. I drafted this guy in a 20-team fantasy league and he hasn’t pitched for me at all. I wish I could put him on the injured list so I could replace him without cutting him but the Marlins have left him on the 40-man roster and not placed him on the injured list. His potential makes him too good to drop because every pitcher owned in over 3% of leagues is gone since it’s a 20-team league. Make my life easier, Marlins. Put him on the IL so I can keep him but let someone else pitch for him while he’s hurt! He is still listed as healthy and on the 40-man roster. Doesn’t that mean this still counts against his service time? Why not just IL him?
Because he was optioned to the minors instead. You can’t accrue service time in the minors even if you are on the 40 man. If he was on the IL he would be accruing service time. No one cares about your fantasy team.
Hey!!! That’s not true… some people do. I promise. J/k, It’s actually a big league made up entirely of MLBTR commenters.
I know, I’m in it. Won’t tell you who I am though. muahahahah
Marlins rotation will be so good if Sixto and Ed Cabrera can stay healthy. Max Meyer right behind them as well.
The good thing is that they’re thinking long term in trying to be patient with them.
If we keep developing pitchers like this, we’re going tom have a dominant staff and perhaps have some major trade chips to add any needed young bats. I’d even venture to say that at some point in the next couple of years, we could easily see the Marlins and Blue Jays get together for a young pitcher for young hitter swap between the two – considering how they both are almost a perfect match as trade partners.
Good point
I would love an equivalent to the Chisholm-Gallen trade, seems to have worked out for both sides. Alcantara interests me the most, or also PabLo.
Would cost one of the big prospects but probably something they need to consider with the way their rotation looks.
No way Alcantara gets traded. Could see Pablo get traded for a bat though.
Yeah, no way Alcantara gets traded. Not likely for Sanchez either.
As for Pablo and really any of the other pitchers depends on what a team is dealing with. For someone like Pablo who is already establishing himself at the MLB level, he would likely be involved for a young hitter that has also already been establishing himself at the MLB level. For other guys, like say Cabrera, who is a prospect without MLB experience, then a young hitter that is comparable in prospect status and without or very little MLB experience would be the case.
With a team like the Blue Jays, with where they are, I see them more interested in the Marlins guys that have established themselves at the MLB level. With where the Marlins are also at, that would require one of the Blue Jays’ young MLB bats. The Marlins are deep in OF prospects, but not as deep in infield prospects and probably could particularly use a catcher going forward. Marlins and Blue Jays are a great trade match. Could be very interesting between these two over the next couple of years.
The Marlins didn’t develope Sixto. The Phillies did.
If you look at the history of his training and such, the Marlins definitely developed Sixto
Whether you want to argue that or not, the Marlins developed the rest of the pitchers, so 1 versus how many?
Does this work for you?
Sixto has had health issues since the minors, and I really hope this isn’t the norm. That being said, I credit the Marlins for being smart and patient here.
Sixto was always healthy for the Phils
Wasnt so much health rather every one is babying his arm and sabing innings.
@Brixton no he wasn’t. Health was a concern before they traded him. Shoulder inflammation was the issue during his Phillies tenure.
How big health concerns was his conditioning. He was usually over weight and didn’t take care of himself. Since his trade to the Marlins he seems like a new person. He lost a lot of weight and has been training hard. He had a shoulder thing in the past and the phils baby’d him. Right now I’m sure a lot of it is precautionary. He was going to be on an innings limit anyway do if he gets healthy next month and comes back around the ASG then it would be a big boost. Hopefully Edward comes along then too. Unfortunately I don’t see Max making his debut this season.
Overall I agree it’s smart to keep going slow
Cynically, I will say it’s easier to be smart given that he’s making a minor league salary not a major league one. I mostly joke but just a bit of honesty
Easy decision for the Marlins. They are a year away from really competing. No reason to rush anything this season.
I don’t even think they compete next year. Their offense prospects don’t really scare me.
Keep listening to that Mets Hyperbole.
BTW, your Mets defense and baserunning should scare you.
Bro, did you come back to this comment 20 minutes later just to pile on?
MetsFan22 likes to talk his stuff. We know that he’s crying somewhere right now. If you wonder why, go watch the Mets-Cubs game. LOL!
I feel like if Sixto pitched 20 years ago he would be in the conversation with Pedro, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown, etc for the best pitcher in baseball. Wild how much better baseball players are now.
Woah now. The guy hasn’t even pitched half a season yet.
Tatis’ agent looking for his next client.
Pedro and Randy, some ones fishin, no pun intended.
Pedro and the Big Unit would be just as dominant today as they were 20 years ago, just like Ted Williams would win the batting title nearly every year if he was in his prime now as well. These guys transcend eras.
Pedro and Williams yes. Johnson no. Unfortunately you just see more injuries with tall pitchers nowadays. That’s why it’s better to be a shorter pitcher in today’s era.
how would his height matter? he could swing it then. unless he was trying to pitch differently now it wouldnt be anything different. and what exactly are all these tall pitchers getting injured that you are talking about?
6 feet tall power pitchers don’t last. I know a Yankee scout that won’t look at anyone throwing heat at that height.
You know a lazy scout.
Should be noted here that this particular aphorism is one the Indians have been betting against in the draft for years. I think every year I see Cleveland drafting some 5’10” guy from a cold weather state somewhere in the back half of the first 10 rounds. Although none of their current starters are that height, Eli Morgan is on the 40 and is pretty typical of that.
Sixto had arm issues in the minors when he was with the Phillies. Marlins have to monitor this carefully if they want him long term.
If he stays off of the mlb roster for 109 days, we gain one more year of control.
I doubt that happens, but this is a business. It all depends if the Marlins are in a playoff hunt or not.
We’re not hurt either way. If we’re not in a playoff race, then we take our time and keep him an extra year. If we’re in a situation of bringing him back, it’s very likely because we’re in a playoff race.
I don;t really think they will get one more years of control. I don’t see any way he will be in minors till August
If you finish tied for seventh in the rookie of the year voting, is it really worth mentioning again once the initial announcement is made?
LOL