BDPP76, Tony Sanchez of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bowman Chrome Autograph
Buy or Sell: Sell
Projected Value: Medium
Sanchez is an interesting prospect, but there are a couple of things working against the value of his cards in the long-term.
First off, Sanchez looks to be staying put in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. New Pirates General Manager, Neal Huntington, seems to be on the right track to building a mid-market franchise with budget constraints. Huntington probably won’t be around to see the majority of his maneuvers come to fruition, but the groundwork has been laid.
The move to draft Sanchez with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft was a bit questionable, but you have to admire a GM that puts his faith into the hands of the Scouting Director and takes a leap of faith.
Unfortunately, Sanchez’s early draft slot and high signing bonus will lead to an early overvaluation of his cards.
Sanchez has all of the tools to be an above average catcher in the big leagues, but his name shouldn’t be amongst the highlights of any checklist. He had a terrific seasons in Low-A, where he showcased his potential.
Sanchez could make a claim for a promotion to Double-A early in the season. He’s not afraid to take a walk, a skill that’s translated well from BC, and the power’s starting to come around.
You’re going to have issues making money of Sanchez, though. People like to overpay for early first rounders and even if Sanchez hits the show before 2012, his cards will have a hard time standing up to fourth-overall selection prices.
