The Miami Marlins have finally started to get things going, but starting pitcher Sixto Sanchez appears to be struggling. His last start came on Sunday against the New York Mets, where he allowed four runs in the first inning. The Marlins lost by a score of 7-3. Former top prospect Sanchez has battled with shoulder injuries since 2021. He returned to the mound this season, but the results have been less than favorable.
Woes Continue For Starting Pitcher Sixto Sanchez
Sixto Sanchez joined the Marlins in 2019 via a trade where Miami sent catcher J.T. Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2020, he pitched in the Marlins’ Wild Card game, where he went five scoreless innings. Following the 2020 season, he was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 15 overall prospect. In addition, he was a leading candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Unfortunately, all this potential would be diminished due to shoulder troubles he faced starting the 2021 season. This injury would lead him to spend the next three seasons on the injured list.
Before the 2024 season, his spot on the roster was up in the air, but he performed well in spring training. He delivered six scoreless innings in four spring training outings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out four. Following this, the right-hander opened the season in the bullpen but only pitched in 7 ⅓ innings and allowed 7 runs.
Due to the numerous injuries to starters, he was moved to the rotation. So far, he has a 0-2 record and has a 6.41 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP in 19.1 innings pitched. The majority of his problems have come in the first inning. He has a 19.80 ERA in the first inning alone. For anything later than that, he has a 1.88 ERA. Along with first-inning troubles, his velocity levels are down due to his past injuries, and so are his whiff rates. Hopefully, he can overcome these obstacles and be a steady and reliable starting pitcher for the Marlins.
Marlins Manager Disappointed With Sanchez’s Start
ESPN’s Christina De Nicola reports that Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker was unhappy with how Sanchez performed against the Mets.
"That's unacceptable in the first inning. So if he wants to start at this level, he's gonna have to be better in the first inning…"
🎙Skip Schumaker on Sixto Sánchez's first inning struggles. pic.twitter.com/K3wGSzJGTm
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) May 19, 2024
Schumaker’s words speak volumes about Sanchez’s struggles so far this year, and he’s put his pitcher on notice, even though Sanchez has missed a few years with injuries. With Miami struggling and having one of the worst records in MLB, plus the injuries they’ve had to other pitchers such as ace Sandy Alcántara and Jesús Luzardo just coming back from an injury, Schumaker has made a call to Sanchez to step up, and they’ll need him to. Most importantly, Sanchez needs to step up and gain some confidence as he gets more starts after missing three years.
