Boston College Athletics
Pittsburgh Selects Sanchez With Fourth Overall Pick In MLB Draft
June 09, 2009 | Baseball
June 9, 2009
SECAUCUS, N.J. - Boston College junior catcher Tony Sanchez became the highest pick in the Major League Baseball Draft in program history when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft on Tuesday night.
Sanchez became the second Eagle to ever be selected in the first round and is the first position player to be picked in the round in school history. RHP Chris Lambert was the only other player drafted in the first round out of Chestnut Hill when he was taken 19th by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004.
The Miami, Fla., native was the first catcher taken in the draft. He is just the third catcher out of Boston College to be selected in MLB Draft history.
"You know what I like about cold weather players is that they still have a high ceiling ahead of them," MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds said. "I really believe you don't always peak early. With him playing at Boston College, he is still growing and his bat is still coming along."
Sanchez is currently one of three finalists for the 2009 Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher. He was also named to the 2009 Louisville Slugger All-America Third Team and was tabbed as one of 30 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. He was also the first player from Boston College to be voted to the All-ACC First Team.
Sanchez currently ranks eighth in the ACC in runs (63), ninth in home runs (14), 10th in doubles (19) and slugging (.614), 12th in total bases (140), 16th in batting (.346) and 17th in hits (79) and on-base percentage (.443). He has also thrown out the most runners in the conference this season, catching opponents stealing 19 times.
Sanchez's 63 runs this season are a Boston College single-season record. Steve Langone and Sean McGowan had shared the record with 60 runs, which they both reached in 1999. His 14 home runs are the third-most in a single season and his 79 hits are fourth.
Sanchez has established himself as one of the most productive hitters in BC history. He ranks fifth all-time at Boston College in home runs with 24 and RBI with 124, sixth in hits with 202 and eighth in runs with 125.
