There is some good news on Sixto Sanchez, the Phillies’ top pitching prospect.
“He's been throwing live batting practice and is feeling great,” general manager Matt Klentak said Monday night.
Sanchez, 20, has not pitched competitively since early June when he was shut down after experiencing right elbow soreness. After a battery of tests, it was determined that Sanchez would not require surgery. He has been rehabilitating the injury in Florida all summer.
“We’re considering next steps for him,” Klentak said.
Sanchez is likely to get some innings in the Florida Instructional League, which begins play in September, and it’s possible he could even see some time in the Arizona Fall League, according to Klentak.
Sanchez had been pitching for Single A Clearwater at the time of his injury. In four starts leading up to the injury, he had allowed just two earned runs in 25 2/3 innings while striking out 29 and walking four. In his last start on June 3, he delivered seven shutout innings, walked two and struck out five in a win over the Florida Fire Frogs. He reported to the ballpark the next day complaining of elbow tenderness.
Sanchez’s mix of control and power stuff has made him one of baseball’s top pitching prospects and an untouchable in trade discussions. The Phillies envision him as being a mainstay in their rotation in the coming years.