Rómulo Sánchez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is Oviedo.

Rómulo Sánchez
Pitcher
Born: (1984-04-28) 28 April 1984 (age 40) Carora, Lara, Venezuela
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: 26 August, 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
NPB: 1 May, 2011, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
Last appearance
MLB: 25 September, 2010, for the New York Yankees
NPB: 10 August, 2011, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–0
Earned run average	4.04
Strikeouts	19
NPB statistics
Win–loss record	0–2
Earned run average	4.96
Strikeouts	19
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (2007–2008) New York Yankees (2010) Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (2011) Chinatrust Brother Elephants (2014)

Rómulo Ignacio Sánchez Oviedo (born 28 April 1984) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brother Elephants.

Career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Sánchez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers on 8 March 2002. He pitched asva starter in the Dominican Summer League in 2002 and 2003. He was released by the Dodgers on 12 March 2004.^[1]

Pittsburgh Pirates

He was picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on 7 May 2004. He pitched in the Venezuelan League in 2004 for the Pirates, throwing a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts in one game.^[1][2] Sánchez made his stateside debut in 2005, making appearances in rookie ball, Single-A, and Double-A. Due to a lack of secondary pitches, the Pirates converted him to a reliever in 2006. He spent most of his time in A-ball, pitching to a 7.08 ERA in 40.2 innings over 21 games with the Hickory Crawdads.^[3] Sánchez missed the last two months of the season with shoulder tendinitis. After the season, Baseball America ranked him as the Pirates' 30th best prospect.^[4] He was also added to the 40-man roster.^[5]

Sánchez began the 2007 season with the Altoona Curve and pitched to a 6–3 record with a 2.81 ERA in 40 relief appearances.^[6] His career walk rate went from 3.9 BB/9 to 2.7, which was enough of an improvement for the big league club to take notice.^[7] When Salomón Torres went on the disabled list on 25 August, Sánchez was called up.^[8] He made his Major League debut on 26 August against the Houston Astros, throwing two thirds of an inning.^[9] Sánchez allowed eight runs in three games consecutive appearances, which greatly contributed to his 5.00 ERA in 18 innings.^[10] After the season, he was ranked as the 13th best prospect in the Pirates system by Baseball America.^[2]

In 2008, he started the season in Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians.^[11] Sánchez was called up to the majors on 29 June after going 4–0 with four saves and a 2.85 ERA in 28 relief appearances.^[12] On 1 July, he picked up his only MLB save during a 6–5 extra inning Pirates victory over the Reds.^[13] He allowed six runs on 14 hits and six walks over 13.1 innings of work in multiple stints with the team that year.^[14] During spring training in 2009, Sánchez was designated for assignment.^[15][16] He was then outrighted to Triple-A.^[17]

New York Yankees

Sánchez was traded to the New York Yankees for Eric Hacker on 16 May 2009.^[18] The Yankees attempted to convert him back into a starter.^[19] Following the 2009 season, Sánchez was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.^[20] On 7 May 2010, the Yankees recalled Sánchez to the major leagues.^[21] He appeared in two games and worked four and one third innings without allowing a run.^[22] In 2011, Sánchez was out of options and did not travel with the team amid speculation of an coming trade.^[23]

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

On 11 April 2011, Sánchez signed with Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for $475k plus bonuses.^[24][25] He was 0–2 with a 4.96 ERA in 15 games. On 29 November 2011, he became free agent.^[26]

Tampa Bay Rays

On 19 January 2012, Sánchez signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.^[27] He did not make the team out of spring training and was assigned to Triple-A Durham before the season.^[28][29] On 2 August, Sánchez was released by the Rays. He went 2–2 with a 6.31 ERA in 34 appearances with Durham.^[30]

Olmecas de Tabasco

He participated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Venezuela.^[31] On 21 March 2013, Sánchez signed with Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League, where he was 0–2 with an 8.59 ERA in 8 games. He was released on 9 April.^[1][32]

Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)

Sánchez signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on 13 December 2013.^[33] He was released March 2014.^[1]

Chinatrust Brothers

He joined the Chinatrust Brothers in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the 2014 season.^[34] Sánchez pitched to a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings mostly out of the bullpen.^[35]

T&A San Marino

For the 2015 season, Sánchez signed with T&A San Marino of the Italian Baseball League.^[34] He allowed a 5.59 ERA in just 9.2 innings of work.^[36] San Marino removed him from the roster in April.^[37]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela

References

1. "Romulo Sanchez Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
2. Callis, Jim, ed. (February 2008). Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2008. Baseball America Inc. p. 359. ISBN 978-1-932391-19-0.
3. "2006 Hickory Crawdads Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
4. Callis, Jim, ed. (6 February 2007). Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007. Baseball America Inc. p. 365. ISBN 978-1-932391-14-5.
5. Eagle, Ed (21 November 2006). "Morgan cracks Pirates' 40-man". MiLB.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
6. "2007 Altoona Curve Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
7. Srinivasan, David (6 September 2007). "Minor Achievements: McCutchen, Rasmus and more". ESPN.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
8. Biertempfel, Rob (25 August 2007). "Bucs place Torres on DL, call up Sanchez". www.triblive.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
9. "Astros 5-4 Pirates (Aug 26, 2007) Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
10. "Rómulo Sánchez 2007 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
11. Perrotto, John (5 April 2008). "Locals Omogrosso, Holliday stick with minor-league teams". Beaver County Times. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
12. Perrotto, John (29 June 2008). "Pirates notes: Indy might have pitching after all". Beaver County Times. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
13. "Pirates 6-5 Reds (Jul 1, 2008) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved 23 February 2024.^{[dead link‍]}
14. "Rómulo Sánchez 2008 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
15. "Pirates DFA Romulo Sanchez". MLB Trade Rumors. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
16. Kovacevic, Dejan (1 April 2009). "Pirates add Monroe, cut Romulo Sanchez". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
17. "Transactions". San Diego Union-Tribune. 10 April 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
18. "YANKEES, PIRATES TRADE MINOR LEAGUE PITCHERS". New York Post. Associated Press. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
19. Kahrl, Christina, ed. (22 February 2010). Baseball Prospectus 2010. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-470-55840-9.
20. "Seven added to 40-man roster | The Lohud Yankees Blog". Yankees.lhblogs.com. 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 23 November 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
21. "Pitcher Sanchez summoned by New York – Sports". The Times-Tribune. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
22. "Rómulo Sánchez 2010 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
23. King, George A. (28 March 2011). "Pedro Feliciano will open season on DL for Yankees". NYPOST.com. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
24. "ロムロ・サンチェス選手との契約合意に関して". 東北楽天ゴールデンイーグルス オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). 1 April 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
25. "Quick Hits: Kroon, Sanchez, Cubs, Pirates, Rays". MLB Trade Rumors. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
26. "2011年度 自由契約選手 公示". NPB.jp 日本野球機構 (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 August 2020.
27. Marc, Marc (20 January 2012). "Tampa Bay Rays sign three with major-league experience to minor-league contracts". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
28. Topkin, Marc (3 May 2012). "Rays could have moves coming". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
29. "Rays cuts: Albernaz, Coon, Mangini, Nunez, Sanchez". Tampa Bay Times. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
30. @DurhamBulls (2 August 2012). "ROSTER MOVES: C Craig Albernaz placed on DL (retroactive to 7.31); RHP Romulo Sanchez released by #Rays organization" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
31. Miller, Mark. "Team Venezuela World Baseball Classic 2013: Schedule, Roster and Predictions". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
32. "2013 Olmecas de Tabasco Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
33. "Minor Moves: Lin, Sanchez, Sosa, Ni, Burriss". MLB Trade Rumors. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
34. "San Marino completes their foreign mound with Romulo Sanchez". Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
35. "2014 Chinatrust Brothers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
36. "2015 T&A San Marino Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
37. "Eduardo Figueroa to replace Sanchez on T&A's roster". Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball. Retrieved 23 February 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Pura Pelota