July 12, 2024
Left-handed pitcher JJ Sanchez is enjoying his late inning work for Low-A Dunedin. Sanchez, who moved to the backend of the bullpen in June; feels he’s doing well in those high-leverage situations.
“So far, I’m coming out in the backend of games,” stated Sanchez. “In the month of June, I came out of the backend a lot towards the 8th or 9th inning, and I had the most success there.”
Pitching 32 innings so far in 2024; Sanchez has racked up 35 K’s, and he has a WHIP of 1.34.
Sanchez currently uses a four-pitch mix of: a 4-seam fastball, a sinker, a slider, and a splitter.
The lefty uses his fastball early in counts to help set up his other pitches, “I’m just trying to get ahead with my fastball right now,” explained Sanchez. “All of my pitches aren’t 80 grade pitches, I just have to box them up, and once I establish a strike zone they’re pretty hard to hit.”
And once he establishes that strike zone he can work in his secondary pitches which he feels tunnels well.
“Yes, they tunnel well,” said Sanchez. “Right now, I’m working on a splitter which is just for the right-handed batters and tunneling it up with a sinker on a left on left matchup is pretty good. Lefty sinker, slider away, or a 4-seam back up on the hands works well too.”
Be sure to follow JJ Sanchez, as he continues to enjoy his late inning work.