Top 25 MLB players under 25

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Oct 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (41) pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians in game four of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Aaron Sanchez

SP, Toronto Blue Jays

Birthday: July 1, 1992 (Age: 24)
Career Statistics: 24-10, 2.86 ERA, 317.3 IP, 249 K, 1.150 WHIP, 7.9 WAR
2016 Statistics: 15-2, 3.00 ERA, 192.0 IP, 161 K, 1.167 WHIP, 4.8 WAR

The Toronto Blue Jays, like many other teams with great young pitchers, struggled to determine whether Aaron Sanchez should continue to develop as a starter in the minors, or should pitch out of the big league bullpen to help win games now.

The Blue Jays settled on the latter and Sanchez posted a 1.09 ERA and three saves in 24 appearances with the Blue Jays as a 21-year old in 2014. Sanchez began 2015 as a starter, but moved to the late innings after his velocity dropped and his command suffered. He posted a 3.22 ERA in 41 appearances, including 11 starts.

However, Sanchez and the Jays found the perfect formula in 2016. Finally unleashed as a starter, Sanchez won the American League ERA crown with a 3.00 mark in 30 starts, and worked 192 innings.

The only concern for Sanchez moving forward is that he hasn’t been a great strikeout pitcher. He has posted a 19.3 percent strikeout rate with 7.06 K’s per nine innings in his three-year major league career to date, but both numbers are on the rise. In 2015, he fanned 16.1 percent of batters and struck out just 5.95 per nine innings. Last season, Sanchez struck out 20.4 percent of the hitters he faced and averaged 7.55 strikeouts per nine. If he can continue that progression, he’ll be unhittable.

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