Marlins: Jesus Sanchez considered team’s most untouchable player

Amongst all the potential in the Miami Marlins farm system, outfielder Jesus Sanchez is considered the most “untouchable” on the 40-man roster.

MLB.com’s Will Leitch has me salivating a bit after reading his latest story about each team’s most untouchable player. I have to say I was a bit surprised he chose Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez who has yet to play an inning in Marlins Park.

While the pick is surprising, it also makes sense if you look at the bigger picture of how this organization has been built the past two seasons.

“The offseason is here, which means there are no Major League Baseball games for several months. That is bad,” Leitch writes. “But we are about to see a lot of players change teams over the winter, and that is always exciting and disorienting, so that part is definitely good. But some guys — there are some guys your team just can’t do without.”

Sanchez could be that kind of player in South Florida and as the team’s No. 3 prospect in the minors, he should immediately contend for one of the open outfield spots on the roster in Spring Training. It’s three months away from that happening, but the hype train for Sanchez, who is also ranked 51st of the top 100 minor league prospects by MLB Pipeline, could make his way to the Majors with a solid camp.

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Sanchez was the prospect the Marlins got in return for pitchers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards at the MLB Trade Deadline. He was also a consideration this past offseason when the Tamo Bay Rays were considered a contender to land catcher J.T. Realmuto. The 22-year-old has been on this team’s radar for some time.

“The Marlins were a little bit more interesting last year than you might have noticed, and they have a lot of interesting young pieces on the verge of debuting. To be fair, none of them is so good so as to be deemed “untouchable,” but we’ll go with Sánchez — who came from the Rays in the Nick Anderson trade this summer — because he is their best position prospect close to the Majors. Just wait until this guy, righty Sixto Sánchez, outfielder JJ Bleday and shortstop Jazz Chisholm get here,” Leitch adds.

After seeing both Sixto Sanchez and Chisholm in Jacksonville this past season, it just brightens the Marlins outlook on the future. With time will come results. Sanchez coming over from the American League and immediately producing in the Marlins farm system gives u, even more,e hope for the next few seasons.

Per MLB.com, “Sanchez’s athleticism and above-average speed serve him well in right field, where he projects as at least an above-average defender with a strong arm. He has the requisite offensive profile for the position, too, as a potential middle-of-the-order run producer.”

The franchise could certainly use that kind of production next season, whether it is out of the gate on Opening Day or when he is brought up from Triple-A because of injuries to Major Leaguers or a lack fo production in the team’s lineup.