With his sixth pitch of the game,
\n\nHundo Sanchez. Too good.
— David Adler (@_dadler) September 9, 2020
100.2 mph to get Acuña. Sixto and deGrom now the only starters with multiple 100+ mph K's this year.
Sixto story here ➡️ https://t.co/gRnW2FRYyb pic.twitter.com/Ck3j2hjF1C
“You could sense the excitement because we've been talking about Sixto for a couple of years,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “And then to see it get here. I think we did a good job making sure he was built up, so he didn't come here with rules. From the standpoint of, he can only do this. You have to watch his pitch count. You were able to build him physically and give him the best chance to go and be one of the guys.”\n\nRanked by MLB Pipeline as Miami’s No. 1 prospect, Sánchez is the 22nd overall prospect on the Top 100 list. The early returns on his big league career have shown he deserves to be in the National League Rookie of the Year Award conversation. He lowered his ERA to 1.80.\n\n“He has definitely brought an excitement to our rotation, and he continues that competition that we want with all of them in a healthy way,” Mattingly said.
Sánchez allowed just three hits, walked one, hit a batter and exited only after appearing to run out of gas on 89 pitches in the seventh inning. He threw 60 strikes, including two that were tracked by Statcast at 100 mph or higher. Also in the first inning, he blazed a 100.6 mph fastball that Marcell Ozuna fouled off.\n\n\"I’m telling you what, if he stays healthy, he’s going to give people fits for a long time,\" Braves manager Brian Snitker said. \"That’s the total package right there.\"\n\nAccording to Statcast, Sánchez now has 10 pitches tracked at at least 100 mph or higher (not 99.5 and rounded up) this season. The only starting pitcher in the Majors with more is two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom with 14.
\n\nSix(to) shutout frames tonight and Sánchez has a 1.80 ERA through 4 career starts.
— MLB (@MLB) September 9, 2020
(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/sfOkyDrDdh
Even with a fastball that averages close to 99 mph, Sánchez entered the game throwing changeups 30 percent of the time, compared to 22.4 percent four-seam fastballs and 21.5 percent sinkers.\n\nOn Tuesday, the Miami rookie threw 32 four-seamers and just 14 changeups. He mixed in 23 sliders against eight right-handed hitters in Atlanta's lineup.\n\n“That was my plan,” Sánchez said via an interpreter. “In the first inning, I was throwing my fastball and getting ahead in the count. After that, I was going with my secondary pitches, my slider, my changeup. That was the plan during the game.”\n\nThe win secured the Marlins’ first series victory in Atlanta since 2016. Now 19-18, Miami is 2.5 games behind the Braves in the National League East. Miami also is 3-2 on the road trip, which started at Tampa Bay.\n\n“I feel eager to get on the mound and pitch and help my team,” Sánchez said. “I want to help my team win and make the playoffs.”
Sánchez provided the heat on the mound, and the offense delivered some punch against Braves right-hander Kyle Wright, who surrendered five runs in four innings.\n\n
After a game off,
The Marlins have not had as much excitement over a rookie starting pitcher since the late José Fernández, who was the NL Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2013.\n\n“It's not quite like José, because José kind of seemed like he was a Lone Ranger a little bit,” Mattingly said. “He was one guy. Now, it's starting to be every guy.”\n\nAs dominant as Fernández was, the Marlins' overall rotation wasn’t as deep a few years ago as it is now.\n\nMiami now has rookies like Sánchez and left-hander