Outfielder Jesus Sanchez is officially on the Diamondbacks’ roster, and manager Torey Lovullo wasted no time, inserting him immediately into the starting lineup as the designated hitter, batting seventh. Sanchez, scooped up off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, September 14, spent his first day in Arizona catching up with some familiar faces, but it’s what he said that truly turns heads for the Diamondbacks and their late-season push.
Sanchez Is Back, And He’s Not Holding Back Against His Old Squads
Sanchez knows a thing or two about playing for different teams. He actually broke into the majors with the Diamondbacks’ current opponent, the Miami Marlins, before getting dealt to Houston midway through last season. Then the Astros sent him to the Blue Jays in the offseason. So yeah, he’s been around, and that history fuels him. “I always like to play against my ex-team,” Sanchez said through interpreter Alex Arpiza, “because, obviously, they traded me and it gives me a little extra adrenaline to do that.” You gotta love that fire! He’s not here to make friends, he’s here to play baseball, especially against teams that let him go.
“I Kill Right-Handed Pitching” , And the D-backs Need It
Talk about a confident declaration! Sanchez didn’t mince words about his hitting prowess, especially when facing righties. “I kill right-handed pitching,” he stated, adding he’s “just going to continue to enjoy my style of play.” And the numbers back him up: he boasts a career .775 OPS against right-handers, with that number actually ticking up to a .781 OPS this season. The timing couldn’t be better for the Diamondbacks, who are in a tight wild-card chase and desperately need more offensive production specifically against right-handed pitching. To make room for Sanchez, the D-backs optioned outfielder Tommy Troy down to Triple-A Reno.
The Diamondbacks are hosting the Miami Marlins for a three-game series at Chase Field. Tonight, Wednesday, September 16, D-backs RHP Merrill Kelly (9-13, 4.97 ERA) takes the mound against Marlins RHP Ryan Gusto (1-5, 4.14 ERA). With Sanchez’s bat now in the lineup and his absolute confidence, every game in this wild-card chase is going to be must-watch baseball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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