Section 215
Fansided

Former Phillies Prospect Gets Completely Torched By Manager

The Phillies' former top prospect continues to struggle in his career.

By Cem Yolbulan

Sep 13, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez (73) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of their game at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Sixto Sanchez (73) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of their game at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports / Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
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The Philadelphia Phillies' division rivals the Miami Marlins have been struggling to put up wins on the board all season. Sitting at the bottom of the NL East with a 16-34 record, the Marlins look like a long shot to repeat last season's success when they lost to the Phillies in the Wild Card Series.

One of the players who is struggling with his performance so far this season is a familiar face to Phillies fans. Sixto Sanchez, once a top prospect in Philadelphia, has been so disappointing on the mound that his manager Skip Schumaker went off on him after Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Mets.

Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker Goes Off On Sixto Sanchez

Schumaker's tone was unusually harsh for his own player. Calling Sanchez's performance "unacceptable", the second-year manager said the right-handed pitcher has to be better.

"I don't know, but that's unacceptable in the first inning, so if he wants to start at this level, he's going to have to be better in the first inning. It's just what it is. We had a heart-to-heart underneath, and so did [pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr.]"

- Marlins manager Skip Schumaker

The Mets torched Sanchez by scoring four runs in the first inning, where he had to throw a career-high 40 pitches. This continuation of his first-inning woes increased his first-inning ERA to a whopping 19.80 in five starts.

The 25-year-old pitcher came back from a series of major arm injuries, not pitching at all in 2021 or 2022 and only throwing one minor-league inning in 2023. So, it is understandable that he might be a little rusty.

Sanchez had initially signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2015. He was considered the number one prospect for Philadelphia, and one of the best young pitcher prospects overall, often being compared to Pedro Martinez.

Before he made an appearance in the majors, he was traded to the Marlins in February 2019 in the blockbuster trade that brought J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia.

Since then, Realmuto turned into one of the best catchers in baseball, won two Gold Glove and three Silver Slugger awards, earning himself the largest contract for any catcher in MLB history in 2021.

Sixto Sanchez might figure things out and start playing better but that trade will continue to be one of the best trades in Phillies history.

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