The Los Angeles Dodgers added former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Lolo Sanchez to their organization, signing him to a Minor League contract that presumably includes a non-roster invite to 2024 Spring Training.
Sanchez was immediately assigned to join the Double-A Tulsa Drillers as he enters his age-25 season. The right-handed outfielder played his entire career within the Pirates organization, with each of his last two seasons coming at the Double-A level.
The Pirates originally added Sanchez in 2015 as their top international signing with much of his draw being speed and solid bat-to-ball ability. However, he failed to translate that upside into sustainable growth.
Sanchez was rated as the Pirates’ 20th-best prospect in the 2020 season, but has since failed to crack any top rankings.
In his last two seasons, the knock on Sanchez has been a lack of power and inability to hit the ball with authority. Dating back to 2022, Sanchez has registered just 27 extra-base hits in 490 plate appearances.
His most recent season with the Double-A Altoona Curve was accompanied by a .227/.332/.320 slash and 87 wRC+.
Sanchez elected free agency in early November and joins the Dodgers with the hope that he can find some untapped potential within a talented Minor League system.
Lolo Sanchez among Dodgers’ recent signings
In addition from Sanchez, the Dodgers recently nabbed a few former top prospects on Minor League deals, which includes Travis Swaggerty, a fellow former Pirates farmhand.
The left-handed outfielder made his MLB debut in June of the 2022 season. This past season, Swaggerty hit .200/.278/.369 across 65 games, with most of his time coming at the Triple-A level.
The Dodgers also recently signed former Oakland Athletics 2017 first-rounder Austin Beck, who underwhelmed in his time in the Minors. Beck missed the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL, which he suffered in Spring Training.
Beck is an intriguing addition because of his raw ability. The ceiling for him isn’t high but he’s another low-risk dice roll for the Dodgers’ Minor League system.
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