Many St. Louis Cardinals fans are curious to see how young reliever Eduardo Sanchez does this spring. Sanchez, who appeared in 26 games for the Cardinals during his rookie season as a 22 year old, immediately displayed the type of dominating stuff that ends up closing games at the Major League level.
In fact, Sanchez did close some games in 2011. Five of them to be exact while striking out 35 hitters in 30 innings before missing most of the second half of the season with a shoulder injury.
Sanchez figures to be an important member of the Cardinals bullpen this season and many are curious to see if he is fully healthy. In his first spring training action, Sanchez looked healthy and filthy.
Sanchez tossed two innings in his first action of the spring, throwing 38 pitches while holding the Boston Red Sox scoreless in the Cardinals 9-3 win, their first of the spring.
Sanchez was a bit erratic, walking two hitters in his two innings, but also showcased a 93 mph fastball to go along with a nasty breaking pitch to strike out four helpless Boston hitters.
It is only spring training and it is still very early in March, but for Sanchez to be throwing the ball well and feeling healthy is definitely a good sign for Cardinals manager Mike Matheny who will likely depend on Sanchez to set-up for closer Jason Motte on a regular basis.
And if Motte slips up in the closer role and Sanchez is throwing the ball well, the 23 year old with the dirty slurve is not a bad back-up plan for the ninth inning if Matheny is in a bind.
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