The Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations, John Hart and company has made another deal on Thursday afternoon. Though it’s not that juice, delicious trade we are all looking for, this one may have wings.
The Braves have acquired 17-year-old left handed pitcher Ricardo Sanchez from the Los Angeles Angels. In doing so, the Braves sent right handed pitcher Nate Hyatt and infielder Kyle Kubitza to the Angels. Sanchez is from Puerto Cabello, VE and will turn 18-years-old on April 11.
The #Braves have acquired LHP Ricardo Sanchez from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHP Nate Hyatt and INF Kyle Kubitza.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 8, 2015
Sanchez, 17, made 12 apps (9 starts) in 2014 for the Arizona League Angels and went 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA while fanning 43 batters. #Braves
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 8, 2015
Entering 2015, Sanchez has been named as the second-best prospect in the Angels organization by Baseball America. #Braves
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 8, 2015
With the main focus on rebuilding the farm system and getting the Braves back to where they were a few years ago, this is a brilliant trade for the Braves. Sanchez was the Angels second best prospect behind left handed pitcher Sean Newcomb. The Angels have nine out of their top 10 prospects either left handed or right handed pitchers.
Kubitza was ranked as the Braves 10 top prospect according to Baseball America. He was the Braves third round draft choice in 2011 out of Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas. In 2014 he spent the season in Mississippi having a slash line of .295/.405/.470. He has been regarded recently as the successor to Chris Johnson at third base but reports are he struggles in the field and it’s debatable whether he could stay at third. In 2012 he had 20 errors, 2013 he had 25 errors and in 2014 he had 25 errors.
Kubitza made big strides in 2013 and hit well in Double-A this past season, but there were ?'s whether he'd hit enough to play 3B in bigs
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) January 9, 2015
Hyatt is a relief pitcher that had a decent season out of the bullpen in 2014. He has a 2.71 ERA, 1.381 WHIP, allowed three homers in 63 innings pitched while striking out 73 and had 27 walks.