Former SK pitcher Sanchez, 7 years after leaving Korea → Still a fireballer at 37 with 152 km/h!

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Right-handed pitcher Angel Sanchez (37), who previously played for the KBO League SK Wyverns (the predecessor of the current SSG Landers), demonstrated his continued dominance by showcasing powerful fastballs despite being in his late 30s.

Sanchez, a member of Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM), started against Estrellas Orientales in a home game held on the 21st (Korean time) at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marin in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He pitched well for four innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out two and giving up one run. Although he did not meet the five-inning requirement for a win and was recorded as no decision, he laid a valuable stepping stone by leading his team to a 5-3 victory and securing his first win of the season (1 win, 3 losses).

The most notable aspect was his velocity defying time. Sanchez recorded a top speed of 94.5 mph (approximately 152.1 km/h) on the scoreboard that day. His overall pitching performance was also sharp. According to Wilfredo Rodriguez, a reporter who primarily covers Dominican baseball, Sanchez filled 62% of his total pitches (43 pitches) with his signature sinker, effectively handling the opposing lineup.

Sanchez's average sinker velocity reached 91.9 mph (approximately 147.9 km/h) that day. He also demonstrated veteran savvy by mixing in a four-seam fastball topping out at 93.5 mph (approximately 150.5 km/h) (23%, 16 pitches), a changeup that induced a 50% whiff rate (7%, 5 pitches), a curveball (6%, 4 pitches), and a slider (1%, 1 pitch). He threw a total of five different pitch types.

In the top of the third inning, after issuing a walk to leadoff batter Aaron Sanchez, Sanchez recorded his only run allowed on a second-base grounder by Harold Ramirez with Ismael Munoz's left-field single and a fielder's choice resulting in runners on first and third bases with one out. He then remained steady, firmly guarding the mound through the fourth inning.

The lineup also responded to Sanchez's strong pitching. In the bottom of the second inning, Jose Marmolejo hit a large solo home run off opposing starter Spencer Bivens, traveling 396 feet (approximately 120.7 m) with an exit velocity of 100.2 mph (approximately 161.3 km/h), to seize the momentum. In the bottom of the third inning, they added two more runs on Andy Ibanez's double, John Hill's RBI hit, and Eric Gonzalez's double, followed by an opposing defensive error, taking a 3-1 lead.

After Sanchez left the mound, Reid Banks, who entered in the fifth inning, pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to earn the win. Following Aneluis Zavala (one scoreless inning), Robinson Martinez, who entered in the ninth inning, shut down the final inning scorelessly to record a save and end the game.

Sanchez wore the SK uniform and played on the KBO League stage in 2018 and 2019. Over two seasons, he appeared in 57 games, recording 25 wins, 13 losses, 1 hold, and a 3.68 ERA, serving as a solid one-two punch alongside Merrill Kelly (currently with the Arizona Diamondbacks). In particular, he wore the championship ring from the 2018 Korea Series and left Korea in 2019 after receiving offers from Major League Baseball and the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) following an overwhelming record of 17 wins, 5 losses, and a 2.62 ERA. He also participated in the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 before leaving the Japanese stage due to injury.

Seven years have already passed since he left Korea, and he has become a 37-year-old veteran, but the 152nd km/h fastballs he unleashes from the mound remain exactly the same as the formidable presence of the top-tier fireballer who thrilled KBO League fans in his earlier days.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original