Seattle Mariners top pitching prospect Victor Sanchez has passed away six weeks after sustaining a head injury in a boating accident in his native Venezuela. Sanchez was just 20. Seattle confirmed the devastating news, via Twitter.
Sanchez was signed by the Mariners for $2.5 million back in 2011. He appeared to be on the fast track to the majors, as he pitched in Double-A last season as a 19-year-old.
In 2013, while pitching for Clinton Lumberkings of the Low-A Midwest League, Sanchez threw a nine inning no-hitter. That season, Sanchez pitched to a 2.78 ERA in 20 starts.
Sanchez skipped High-A altogether in 2014 and pitched to a 4.19 ERA in Double-A. Prior to the 2014 season, Baseball America ranked Sanchez as the seventh best prospect in the Mariners system. Baseball America praised Sanchez’s uncanny ability to throw for strikes.
Sanchez sustained the injury back on February while swimming. He was hit by a boat and sustaining a skull fracture. Sanchez also suffered a stroke and fell into a coma.
Sanchez had been scheduled to take part in a minicamp for Mariners prospects. Instead the organization will have to recover from the tragic loss of one of its brightest young talents.