Fansided

Top 25 MLB players under 25

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Sep 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 25
Next
Sep 27, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

21. Gary Sanchez

C, New York Yankees

  • Birthday: December 2, 1992 (Age: 24)
  • Career Statistics: .296/.372/.650, 20 HR, 42 RBI, 34 R, 3.0 WAR
  • 2016 Statistics: .299/.376/.657, 20 HR, 42 RBI, 34 R, 3.0 WAR

Catchers that hit for average and power don’t come along every day, but the Yankees found one in Gary Sanchez, and the 24-year old’s breakout rookie campaign gives fans in the Bronx hope the club will be back in the postseason soon.

Sanchez put up unbelievable numbers last season. In just 53 games, he hit .299/.376/.657 with 20 home runs and 12 doubles. He drove in 42 runs and scored 34, and finished second behind Fulmer in the Rookie of the Year voting despite playing roughly one-third of the season in New York.

Adding the 71 games he played in Triple-A, Sanchez totaled 30 long balls and 92 RBI – a huge breakthrough for a player that hadn’t hit more than 18 home runs in a minor league season before he did it in the majors.

Because his power surge came on so quickly, there is some concern that Sanchez will cool down in his first full in pinstripes. He struck out 24.9 percent of the time at the major league level (higher than any percentage he posted in the minors over the last five seasons), which is an indicator he hasn’t yet figured out MLB pitchers completely.

Still, Sanchez has huge power, and plays a premium position. Together with Bird, Aaron Judge and a host of other young Baby Bombers, the 24-year old will be an exciting part of a new-look Yankees franchise in 2017 and beyond.

Home/MLB