WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2006
VSL:  2-3-5, 5.33 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 27.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 5.0 K/9

Sanz pitched mainly as a closer in his debut season and didn’t get very good results.

2007
VSL:  6-3-0, 3.58 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 73.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 5.1 K/9

The Tigers moved Sanz to their VSL rotation and he pitched better, although still with a low K rate.

2008
R:  5-3-0, 3.66 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 51.2 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Sanz continued to improve as a starter in rookie ball, with solid walk and K rates.

2009
A-:  5-4-0, 3.27 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 82.2 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
A:  0-1-0, 8.64 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 4.3 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Sanz pitched mostly as a starter in short season ball and regressed a little, mainly in the for of a low K rate.  He struggled in limited action out of the bullpen in low A.

2010
A-:  3-0-0, 0.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 8.4 K/9
A:  4-7-0, 5.38 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 87.0 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 6.4 K/9

Sanz again split his time between short season ball and low A, this time mostly the latter, where he served as a swing man.  He didn’t get good results, with poor walk and K rates.

2011
A-:  6-4-0, 2.81 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 83.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 4.5 K/9

The Tigers sent Sanz back down to short season ball.  He pitched very well in 14 starts, but that’s hardly a sign of progress considering that it was his sixth professional season.  He made one start in high A.

2012
A:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
A+:  11-3-0, 3.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 114.1 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Sanz finally spent a year in high A and had a good season, although the pitcher-friendly environs of the Florida State League probably helped.  He made 16 starts and seven relief appearances.  His K rate was below the league average of 7.4.

2013
AA:  3-5-16, 4.94 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 62.0 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 8.9 K/9

The Pirates used Sanz primarily as Altoona’s closer, although he did start three games.  The three starts, in which he had an ERA of 10.38, inflated his ERA.  It was 4.05 as a reliever, although that’s still not good.  He wasn’t unusually hard to hit and had control problems.  He also had a mild gopher ball problem, allowing eight.

Sanz will be a free agent after the season.  He didn’t pitch well for Altoona, so it’s hard to see a reason for the Pirates to try to re-sign him.