Mariners minor league pitcher Victor Sanchez dies at age 20

Seattle Mariners minor league pitcher Victor Sanchez died last night in Venezuela. Sanchez suffered a severe head injury during a swimming accident on February 15th and had been in a coma the last several weeks. He was 20 years old.

Sanchez was born January 30, 1995 in Rio Chico, Venezuela. He emerged as a pitching talent as early as the age of 12, playing for Venezuelan teams in international competition. The Mariners signed him in 2011 for a $2,500,000 bonus and he was considered one of the top arms in the system. He posted a 2.78 ERA with a 79/18 K/BB ratio in 113 innings for Low-A Clinton in 2013, throwing a nine-inning no-hitter for the Lumberkings on July 17th. He then jumped all the way to Double-A in 2014 and held his own against older competition, posting a 4.19 ERA with a 97/34 K/BB in 125 innings.

Sanchez is survived by his wife and mother. By all accounts he was a fine young man, well-respected in the Mariners system as both a pitcher and most importantly as a human being.

There is little that can be said at times like this. We express our sincerest condolences to Victor's family, friends, teammates, and the Mariners organization.