Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: May be headed for bench role
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Sanchez is expected to be included on the Marlins' 26-man Opening Day roster, but he could serve as a bench bat rather than a regular starter, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Though he cut down his strikeout rate from 31.1 percent in 2021 to 26.8 percent in 2022, Sanchez's power output (.189 ISO in 2022, .238 ISO) took a major step back from the season prior. Sanchez has slashed a credible .302/.333/.419 through his first 18 games of Grapefruit League play and looks to have done enough to break camp with the big club, but with Jazz Chisholm (arm) making the full-time move to center field and with Jorge Soler seeing more work in the corner outfield spot opposite Avisail Garcia as spring training winds down, Sanchez looks as though he'll have to settle for a reserve role. If the Marlins aren't willing to open up a regular spot in the outfield for Sanchez, he may struggle to find playing time off the bench, given that his left-handedness won't make him a candidate to fill a short-side platoon role.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Appears set for starting role
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Sanchez remains the favorite to begin the season as the starting left fielder for the Marlins, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Miami has a lot of moving parts in its outfield which complicates the picture, however. Avisail Garcia seems set in right field, but Jazz Chisholm is having a bit of a bumpy transition to center field when it comes to his defense, which could prompt the Marlins to keep multiple backup options on the Opening Day roster. Sanchez is out of minor-league options, which gives him an edge over Bryan De La Cruz for the left-field job, but either could step in for Chisholm in center if necessary. Jorge Soler, the regular designated hitter, can also handle corner outfield duties. Sanchez has gone 9-for-27 this spring with four doubles and three stolen bases, but his 1:8 BB:K suggests the plate discipline issues that have dogged him in the majors haven't yet been solved.
Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Swipes bag in spring opener
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Sanchez went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.
The 25-year-old outfielder has only one career stolen base on two attempts in 172 MLB games, so normally a random spring steal wouldn't mean much. However, Sanchez has a solid sprint speed that was in the 71st percentile in 2021 according to Baseball Savant, and the league's rule changes to benefit the running game could allow players like him to make a contribution in the category and add a little more juice to their fantasy value. First though, Sanchez will have to prove he can get on base enough to take advantage of those rule changes after managing a career .221/.291/.423 slash line to date.
Sanchez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Atlanta.
Sanchez provided all the offense for Miami in this one, launching a solo home run off Jake Odorizzi in the bottom of the fourth inning. The homer was his 13th of the season and first since he returned to the big leagues Sept. 29. In three games since getting called up, Sanchez has gone 4-for-8 with a home run, two doubles and two RBI.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Three hits in Monday's win
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Sanchez went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in Monday's 4-0 win over Atlanta.
The 24-year-old has had a tough season in the majors overall, slashing .212/.275/.394 through 96 games with 12 homers and 34 RBI, but Sanchez will get another couple chances to head into the offseason on a high note. The Marlins' outfield picture remains very unsettled, and Sanchez is by no means out of the team's plans for next year despite his disappointing 2022.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Hitting fifth Friday
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Sanchez is starting at designated hitter and batting fifth Friday against the Brewers, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez, who was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, will be making his first MLB appearance since Aug. 2. He slashed .308/.399/.465 with six home runs, a 21.3 percent strikeout rate and an 11.5 percent walk rate in 42 games at Triple-A after struggling to a .205/.271/.387 line in 93 games in the majors.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Not starting Saturday
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Sanchez will sit Saturday against the Brewers, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez was recalled Friday and joined the lineup as the designated hitter, going 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Bryan De La Cruz will fill that spot Saturday with lefty Aaron Ashby on the mound for Milwaukee.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Called up by Marlins
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Sanchez was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez was sent to the minors in early August but will have a chance to contend for playing time over the next week now that the Triple-A campaign is over. The 24-year-old slashed .308/.399/.465 with six homers, 30 runs, 27 RBI and four stolen bases over 42 minor-league games following his demotion, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him carve out at-bats over the final few games of the big-league season.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Officially demoted
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Sanchez was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez has retained a large-side platoon role in the Marlins' outfield of late, but he's hitting just .175/.290/.300 across his last 30 games. Edward Cabrera and Nick Neidert were both promoted to Miami in a series of moves made by the team Thursday. The move should also solidify consistent playing time for Peyton Burdick, JJ Bleday and Bryan De La Cruz in the Marlins' outfield.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Demotion incoming
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Sanchez is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville ahead of Friday's game against the Cubs, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
Sanchez has recently seen his playing time dwindle despite Miami's injury issues, and he'll now make his way to the minors. The 24-year-old has a .205/.271/.387 slash line with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in 325 plate appearances this season, as he's been unable to replicate the .808 OPS he posted in 64 games during 2021. Prospect Peyton Burdick is set to be promoted by the Marlins for his MLB debut, per Mish.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: On bench against left-hander
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Sanchez isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds.
Sanchez has started against just eight left-handed pitchers this season, and he'll get a breather with southpaw Mike Minor on the mound Wednesday. JJ Bleday will shift to left field while Billy Hamilton starts in center.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Playing time drops
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Sanchez is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The 24-year-old has operated as Miami's starting center fielder most of the season, but JJ Bleday is making his sixth straight start in center Friday. Sanchez has an .838 OPS through the first seven games since the All-Star break, but overall he's struggled this season with a .207/.272/.396 slash line. He should continue to see some playing time in left field -- especially with Jorge Soler (back) on the IL -- but it appears Sanchez's time as an everyday starter is now in the rearview mirror, at least for the time being.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Day off Thursday
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Sanchez is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Reds, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez will get a day off after he went 2-for-7 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored over the last two contests. Bryan De La Cruz will take over in left field and bat seventh in the series finale.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Takes seat Monday
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Sanchez isn't in the lineup Monday against the Reds, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Most of Sanchez's starts this season have come against right-handed pitchers, and he'll get a breather with southpaw Nick Lodolo on the mound for the Reds on Monday. JJ Bleday is starting in center field while Bryan De La Cruz takes over in left.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Riding pine Saturday
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Sanchez isn't in the lineup Saturday against Pittsburgh, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez started Friday's series opener against the Pirates and went 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and a walk. Bryan De La Cruz is taking over in center field and batting seventh Saturday.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Back in action for series finale
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Sanchez (personal) will start in center field and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Phillies, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Sanchez makes his return to the lineup for the final game before the All-Star break after he had been away from the Marlins for the previous three contests while tending to a personal matter. Bryan De La Cruz will head to the bench as Sanchez checks back into his usual spot in center field.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Still not starting
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Sanchez (personal) isn't starting Saturday against the Phillies, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Sanchez is out of the lineup for a third consecutive game while tending to a personal matter, but he's appeared off the bench during the last two games. Bryan De La Cruz is starting in center field and batting seventh Saturday.
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Marlins' Jesus Sanchez: Out of lineup again Friday
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Sanchez (personal) remains out of the Marlins' lineup Friday versus the Phillies, Joe Frisaro of ManOnSecondBaseball.com reports.
Sanchez will miss a second consecutive game as he deals with a personal issue. Bryan De La Cruz will start in center field and bat seventh versus the Phillies.
