MLB Prospects Daily Curve: Sanchez Gets First Dong

MLB Prospects Daily Curve is your daily source for prospect news and interesting articles and links about the minor leagues from around the web.

They say it’s always nice for MLB prospects to get the first one out of the way so they can relax a little and just play. Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez did just that on Wednesday night when he was able to hit his first career MLB home run after just seven games in the big leagues. Fittingly, it was at Fenway Park against the Red Sox, a team he is sure to give fits over the next decade.

Sanchez has plenty of raw power and has worked hard to become a great receiver. The Yankees were shopping Brian McCann at the deadline and it’s because Sanchez is ready to take over in the Bronx as the primary catcher.

After an impressive showing in the Arizona Fall League last year where he posted an OPS of .982 in 88 at bats, he has carried that success into this season and the time is now for the 23-year-old Dominican.

Cubs Minor Leaguer Escanio Suspended (MiLB.com)

Cubs 24-year-old righty Luiz Escanio has been suspended 144 games for a second positive test for steroids. He got popped for a metabolite of Boldenone, and this is just a little over a year after testing positive for a different steroid.

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Escanio isn’t very good at cheating apparently, and if I’m the Cubs, I just cut bait now. This is Escanio’s fourth straight year playing in the Dominican Summer League and the DSL is no place for a 24-year-old.

He’s worked only as a reliever and isn’t considered to be a big prospect. Better to not have him negatively influencing the 17-year-old kids he plays with.

Power hitter Jim Thome on Power Hitter Dylan Cozens: “Wow, Very Impressive” (CSN Philly)

Phillies outfield prospect Dylan Cozens has an insane 32 home runs and 103 RBI’s for Double-A Reading and while Cozens doesn’t normally get a lot of love as a prospect, former Phillies first baseman Jim Thome is certainly impressed.

Thome worked with Cozens briefly at this year’s Futures Game in San Diego and had this to say about the 6’6″ lefty:

“Just look at the size. He’s a physical beast with a really nice swing. He’s got great hand positioning coming through the ball and he’s very balanced for his size. He’s got a really pretty swing. Think about the fun part, the future and what he can do in that ballpark.”

In true slugger fashion, Cozens has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game to go along with the massive power and has struck out 140 times in 418 at bats.

The Phillies second round pick in 2012, Cozens is busting out in 2016, and has improved his walk rate to go with his huge power spike.

He was recently named the Eastern League Player of the Week after having four multi-hit and two multi-home run games in a row.

I’ve been kind of slow to jump on the Cozens bandwagon and I’m still not completely onboard – but he’s definitely gotten my attention.

Richard Urena Hits Team Record Three Triples

Another prospect who is deservedly getting more national attention is the Blue Jays Richard Urena. The 20-year-old shortstop was recently promoted to Double-A New Hampshire after slashing 311/.354/.458 in the tough Florida State League for Dunedin.

Signed for $725,000 in 2012 out of the Dominican Republic, Urena is a switch-hitter with some solid power, a strong arm and a good feel for the shortstop position.

Last night he showed Blue Jays fans the kind of dynamic player he can be when he hit THREE triples and set a FIsher Cats team record.

Next: Alex Reyes Has Downright Filthy Stuff

Urena was on the fringe of most Top 100 Prospect lists coming into 2016, but he will be a prospect that will get a lot of pub this winter. He’s hit the ground running in Double-A (literally) and is hitting over .400 in 30 at bats. He’s definitely a player to put on your radar if he isn’t already.