Sixto Sanchez Has 1 of the Coolest Names in the MLB
The Miami Marlins had an interesting 2020 season. It was full of tense moments, big wins, and some great players. One player, a rookie with the unusual name of Sixto Sanchez, generated a great deal of buzz for MLB fans.
Who is Sixto Sanchez
Many Miami Marlin fans are pinning their hopes on Sixto Sanchez.
Sanchez hasn’t had a dream rookie season with the Marlins, according to Baseball America. COVID-19 created challenges that made it impossible for him to put up the big numbers most rookies dream of when they finally get the chance to play in the majors. Sanchez used the unexpected downtime to stay in shape, stay focused, and once the Marlins returned to the baseball diamond, he proved that he was ready to play.
On August 22, 2020, Sanchez played in his very first major league game, a game his team won. Despite not playing as a Marlin until late-August, he played well all season, ending the official season with a 3-2 win record that included a 3.46 ERA that extends 39 innings. His consistently good playing style helped the Marlins land a spot in the playoffs.
Many people within the Miami organization believe that Sanchez is perfect for tense playoff games. They feel he has the ideal personality for must-win or go home for the season games.
The young pitcher isn’t resting on the success he’s enjoyed so far on the major league mound. He is aware of the little things that hamper his performance and is determined to fix them.
“I’ve been working really hard to fix those little things I needed to after that start in my recent bullpens,” Sanchez said. “I’ve been working hard every day keeping my head high, and I just want to go out there and do a good job for my team.”-The Miami Herald
The story behind Sixto Sanchez’s name
Sixto isn’t a name many people are familiar with, at least not in the United States. The unusual nature of his name has had many people wondering what it means. In the Dominican Republic, where Sixto was born, the name is more common. It is the Latin version of the number six. Given how well Sixto has been played, it’s likely that the name will be on the lips of many Marlin’s fans as they chant for the young player to keep striking out rival teams.
Sixto Sanchez is complimented by childhood hero
Everyone has a childhood hero. For Sixto Sanchez, that person is Pedro Martínez. Not only does Sanchez have Martinez’s number, 45, tattooed on his neck, he fully intends on making it his official team number next season. Like Sanchez, Martinez grew up in the Dominican Republic. He eventually morphed into an outstanding baseball player who was a crucial member of multiple major league teams from 1992 -2009.
His best seasons were from 1998-2004 when he was widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in the league. Not only did he consistently put up impressive stats, but he also had a wide, beautiful smile that made his love of the game evident. He served as an inspiration to many young baseball players, particularly those like Sixto who lived in the Dominican Republic.
“Since I was little, I always loved the way Pedro played the game,” Sánchez said. “Pedro had really nasty pitches — the curveball, the slider, everything. He was one of the reasons I fell in love with the game.”-MLB News
It appears that Martinez is already a fan of young Sixto Sanchez. Martinez recently referred to Sanchez as his “Mini-Me with better stuff.”
