Marlins top prospect Sixto Sanchez ready to join Double-A team

Marlins top prospect Sixto Sanchez is set to tentatively make his debut with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on May 2 against Mississippi.

Miami Marlins fans here in Jacksonville who wanted to see the team’s top minor league prospect Sixto Sanchez will have to wait a little longer.

After the team first through the pitcher would be ready to start for the Double-A affiliate on April 26, it has now been announced he will start on May 2, tentatively on the road against Mississippi.

“Before making his Double-A debut, the Marlins intend to have top prospect Sixto Sanchez throw one more bullpen session,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wrote.

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There has been much excitement about when the Marlins may see Sanchez on the mound in a live game. He was the prized prospect the team received in the deal that sent J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia prior to the start of Spring Training.

The Marlins want to make sure Sanchez is ready to resume a full schedule of work before he is sent to the mound as part of the six-man rotation here in Jacksonville. A collarbone injury slowed his progress over the offseason.

“Physically, Sanchez is fine,” Frisaro explained. “The Marlins are managing their No. 1 prospect’s throwing progression, as well as his innings for the season.”

The 27th ranked prospect in the minors ranked by MLB Pipeline gives the Marlins another young arm the organization can develop for the future. The front office is enamored of Sanchez and his 100-mph fastball he possesses.

Sanchez joins a rotation that features Robert Dugger, Jordan Yamamoto, and Cody Poteet. The Marlins already have a young pitching staff on the Major League roster, but Sanchez in time could evolve into a frontline starter.

In short work last season at the Phillies Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2018, Sanchez made eight starts, but he was shut down last June due to right elbow inflammation. The Phillies planned on having Sanchez go to the Arizona Fall League, but that was scratched due to the collarbone issue.

Now, fully healthy, the Marlins hope to reap the rewards of Sanchez’s arm.

“Sanchez, who threw 46 2/3 innings in 2018, finished with 45 strikeouts and 11 walks,” Frisaro wrote.“Because of the missed time last season, the Marlins are having Sanchez build up at their Minor League complex.”

The Jumbo Shrimp are part of the Southern League and are managed by Kevin Randel, who is in his first year as manager of the Double-A team. He replaces Randy Ready as skipper.