Sanchez and catcher Sandy Leon have turned themselves into prospects since both were signed by then-assistant GM Mike Rizzo and former scouting director Dana Brown on the same trip to Venezuela in 2007. After a strong 25-game stint in low Class A at the end of 2010, most club officials expected him to tear up the South Atlantic League in 2011. Instead, he got off to a slow start and didn't really find his groove until July. Sanchez stands out most for his quick hands and natural feel for making good contact. He tends to be a front-foot hitter, but his hands can whip the barrel through the zone and make up for it. When he stays back in good hitting position with his legs, he can drive the ball to the gaps. He has just enough pull power that he sometimes gets himself in trouble trying to hit homers, but he's starting to understand that he should gear his game toward line drives. Sanchez still chases pitches out of the zone too often, but his feel for his barrel gives him a chance to be a plus hitter with below-average power. A quick-twitch athlete, Sanchez has soft hands and the ability to make occasional highlight-reel plays at second base. He played all around the infield earlier in his career, and his footwork is starting to improve as he gets used to second base, where his arm plays average. He has fringy speed but is aggressive on the basepaths. Sanchez has the tools to be an everyday big league second baseman if it all comes together. He'll advance to high Class A in 2012.
Then-assistant GM Mike Rizzo and former scouting director Dana Brown signed Sanchez and catcher Sandy Leon, a defensive stalwart, on the same trip to Venezuela in 2007. Both players have turned themselves into prospects. Sanchez spent three years in Rookie ball before breaking out in 2010, when he batted .378 in the Gulf Coast League and .317 at Hagerstown. A switch-hitter, he has a compact, line-drive swing from both sides of the plate. He uses the whole field, has decent pop to the gaps and is a good situational hitter. He has an aggressive approach and doesn't walk much, however. He's an average runner. Sanchez played every infield position except first base in 2010, and he profiles best at second base because he lacks the range for shortstop or the power potential for third. His soft hands, good actions and sound footwork around the bag should make him at least an average defender at second base, where his arm also plays well. Sanchez figures to return to low Class A to start 2011 but could earn a promotion by midseason.
Career Transactions
3B Adrián Sanchez retired.
3B Adrián Sanchez retired.
Staten Island Ferry Hawks placed 3B Adrián Sanchez on the temporarily inactive list.
Staten Island Ferry Hawks signed 3B Adrián Sanchez.
Colombia activated 3B Adrián Sanchez.
Colombia activated 3B Adrián Sanchez.
3B Adrian Sanchez elected free agency.
3B Adrian Sanchez roster status changed by Washington Nationals.
Washington Nationals invited non-roster 3B Adrian Sanchez to spring training.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Rochester Red Wings.
Washington Nationals signed free agent 3B Adrian Sanchez to a minor league contract.
3B Adrian Sanchez elected free agency.
Washington Nationals sent 3B Adrian Sanchez outright to Rochester Red Wings.
Washington Nationals designated 3B Adrian Sanchez for assignment.
Washington Nationals selected the contract of 3B Adrian Sanchez from Rochester Red Wings.
Rochester Red Wings activated 3B Adrian Sanchez from the 7-day injured list.
Rochester Red Wings placed 3B Adrian Sanchez on the 7-day injured list.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Nationals Alternate Training Site.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Rochester Red Wings.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals .
Washington Nationals invited non-roster SS Adrian Sanchez to spring training.
sent SS Adrian Sanchez outright to Rochester Red Wings.
sent SS Adrian Sanchez outright to Rochester Red Wings.
sent SS Adrian Sanchez outright to Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals sent SS Adrian Sanchez outright to Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals recalled SS Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals placed SS Adrian Sanchez on the 60-day injured list. Torn right Achilles
Adrian Sanchez roster status changed by Washington Nationals.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals reassigned SS Adrian Sanchez to the minor leagues.
Washington Nationals recalled SS Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
SS Adrian Sanchez returned to Harrisburg Senators from Washington Nationals.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
SS Adrian Sanchez assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Fresno Grizzlies.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Syracuse Chiefs activated SS Adrian Sanchez from the 7-day disabled list.
Syracuse Chiefs sent 2B Adrian Sanchez on a rehab assignment to GCL Nationals.
Syracuse Chiefs placed SS Adrian Sanchez on the 7-day disabled list.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals recalled Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Syracuse Chiefs.
Adrian Sanchez roster status changed by Washington Nationals.
Washington Nationals reassigned SS Adrian Sanchez to the minor leagues.
Washington Nationals recalled SS Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals selected the contract of Adrian Sanchez from Syracuse Chiefs.
Washington Nationals optioned SS Adrian Sanchez to Syracuse Chiefs.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Syracuse Chiefs from Harrisburg Senators.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Syracuse Chiefs from Harrisburg Senators.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Colombia.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Harrisburg Senators.
Washington Nationals signed free agent 3B Adrian Sanchez to a minor league contract.
3B Adrian Sanchez elected free agency.
Harrisburg Senators activated 3B Adrian Sanchez from the 7-day disabled list.
Harrisburg Senators sent 3B Adrian Sanchez on a rehab assignment to GCL Nationals.
Harrisburg Senators placed 3B Adrian Sanchez on the 7-day disabled list.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Potomac Nationals.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Potomac Nationals from Harrisburg Senators.
Harrisburg Senators activated 3B Adrian Sanchez from the 7-day disabled list.
Harrisburg Senators placed 3B Adrian Sanchez on the 7-day disabled list.
SS Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
3B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Potomac Nationals.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals.
Potomac Nationals activated 2B Adrian Sanchez from the 7-day disabled list.
Potomac Nationals placed 2B Adrian Sanchez on the 7-day disabled list.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Potomac Nationals from Nationals Extended Spring Training.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Nationals Extended Spring Training from Hagerstown Suns.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Washington Nationals.
2B Adrian Sanchez assigned to Aguilas del Zulia.
Adrian Sanchez assigned to Hagerstown Suns from GCL Nationals.
Adrian Sanchez assigned to GCL Nationals from DSL Nationals.
Washington Nationals signed free agent 2B Adrian Sanchez to a minor league contract.
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