Ángel Sánchez

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Ángel Sánchez
position=Shortstop
team=Kansas City Royals
number=38
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|9|20
birthplace=Humacao, Puerto Rico
debutdate=September 23
debutyear=2006
debutteam=Kansas City Royals
statyear=September 11, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.222
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=1
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=0
teams=
*Kansas City Royals (by|2006)

Ángel Luis Sánchez (born September 20, 1983 in Humacao, Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball player for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

Major League Baseball draft

At the age of 15, Sánchez was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 12th round (356th overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Sánchez did not sign with the Marlins and would be taken by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round (325th overall) of the by|2001 draft.

Professional career

Sánchez began his professional career playing for the Gulf Coast Royals in 2001 and by|2002. For another two years from by|2003 to by|2004, he played for the Single-A Burlington Bees. In a breakout by|2005 season, playing for the Single-A High Desert Mavericks, he batted .313 with 5 home runs in 133 games. He set numerous career highs including batting average (.313), games played (133, tied in by|2006), at-bats (585), runs scored (102, surpassed in 2006 with 105), hits (185), doubles (33), triple (4), home runs (5), RBI (70), and walks (39, surpassed in 2006 with 44).

On November 18, mlby|2005, Sánchez's contract was purchased by the Royals, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.

In 2006, Sánchez played the entire minor league season for the Double-A Wichita Wranglers. He batted .280 with 4 home runs in 133 games. On September 20, with Andres Blanco injured, Sánchez got the late season callup. Sánchez made his major league debut on September 23, against the Detroit Tigers, going 0-3 with a strikeout in his debut. He got his first major league hit on September 26, against the Minnesota Twins in a two hit game. On October 1, the Royals last game of the season, Sánchez recorded his first 3 hit game, all singles, against the Tigers. It was just his 8th career game. Sánchez completed the 2006 major league season with a .222 batting average and no home runs.

Sánchez missed the entire by|2007 season with a right elbow injury. He was the Naturals' primary shortstop for all of by|2008.

External links

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