Atlanta Braves Top Prospects via Tomahawk Take, 11-15
By Ryan Cothran
Compliments of Baseball America
12. LHP, Ricardo Sanchez
Ricardo Sanchez– When the Braves traded Kyle Kubitza, a minor leaguer that I had enjoyed following for years, I was a bit distraught. However, after hearing that a 17 year old LHP that can throw 95 is the piece coming back in the deal, I came back to my senses…a bit (stubbornly, I still think we’ll miss Kyle’s bat in the upcoming seasons and I think he’ll be a darned good major leaguer, regardless this isn’t about him….).
Considered one of the best young arms under 18 in the game, and a top prospect out of the Angels organization, Ricardo Sanchez is the definition of the Braves offseason: high risk/high reward pitchers. Reigning from Venezuela, Sanchez sports a 3-pitch arsenal with easy mechanics and an above average feel for the strike zone. He’s a high risk due to age and the fact that there are a massive amount of things he must learn and levels he must jump in order to make it to Atlanta. He’ll likely report to Danville with a handful of other studs and try to build on his “middle of the rotation” projectability. At the earliest, Sanchez will be in Atlanta in 2018 when he’ll be in his 5th year of pro-ball, but more likely 2019. While I’m all into keeping up with the Minors, I can honestly admit that this will be the first year where I keep both eyes on Danville and Ricardo Sanchez will be one major reason for doing so.