Top prospect Sanchez to miss AFL with injury
PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies hoped Sixto Sanchez, their top prospect by MLB Pipeline, could make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, but he was recently set back due to problems with his collarbone and will not pitch again until Spring Training.
A Phillies source said team doctors are not concerned.
Sanchez is the No. 21 prospect in baseball. He has not pitched since June because of inflammation in his right elbow. The Phillies' window to get him stretched out and ready to compete this fall did not allow for setbacks, but Sanchez recently reported soreness in his clavicle. The source said the Phillies then decided to be conservative and remove him from the AFL roster.
The Phillies expect him to be 100 percent healthy and ready to compete next spring.
Jonathan Hennigan, a left-handed reliever, is replacing Sanchez on Scottsdale's roster.
Splitting the 2018 season between Class A Lakewood and Class A Advanced Clearwater, Hennigan compiled a 2.39 ERA with 46 strikeouts and a 55 percent ground-ball rate over 52 2/3 innings (37 appearances). He enjoyed most of his success against left-handed hitters, whom he held to a .187/.275/.253 line in 103 plate appearances.
Hennigan, 24, was selected by the Phillies in the 21st round of the 2016 Draft out of Texas State University. He's made 80 relief appearances in three professional seasons, posting a 3.79 ERA with 132 strikeouts, 53 walks and a .234 opponents' average.