Interview Outtakes: White Sox Prospect Carlos Sanchez Answers Nine Questions about Playing Three Infield Positions
Published in
3 min readFeb 23, 2013
By MiLB.com
MiLB.com will publish the fifth part of my nine-part series on top-ranked prospects who are also top-rated defenders on Tuesday morning. The piece will focus on versatile White Sox infielder Carlos Sanchez (bio, stats here), the fifth-ranked second base prospect in all of baseball. In terms of interview extras — answers that didn’t make it into the story but are significant nonetheless — see below. Enjoy.
- On what position he played growing up: “I was always a shortstop.”
- On his best skill as an infielder: “I feel like turning a double play — the turn — has always been my strongest skill playing the infield.”
- On what he is improving upon in big league camp: “Now playing third base, I have had to learn some things to help me with my range, help me with my reaction time. I have learned how to stand up taller when playing the position and how to work on my range. I have had to work on the last couple weeks some mechanics.”
- On how he has improved as a defender: “I just try to be really attentive to the direction and advice that coaches give me. But more than anything, it’s the experience that I have had at every level and now the experience playing behind a guy like Brent Morel and seeing how they go about their business and play the position — more so than anything, that experience is what has helped me get better.”
- On whether he has the most to learn at third base: “Sííí, I think so. Third base is a position that I have the most to learn. I have spent the majority of my career playing shortstop and second base, so I am trying my best to take my coaches’ direction, my coaches’ advice and work at playing third base as best as possible.”
- On whether it’s difficult to move around the infield: “It’s not difficult to change from position to position. Every position is different. Every position, I play differently, but it hasn’t been difficult. Playing third base from shortstop, there is a big difference because the shots are coming at you a lot faster, but it hasn’t been difficult. I have learned to adjust.”
- On where he prefers playing: “I feel like whatever position I’m needed at — wherever they feel I can best serve the team — I am most comfortable in that position.”
- On his mindset entering Spring Training: “The team makes that decision on whether I am ready or not. I am not focused on where I’m going to be playing, just that I need to work hard and I need to stay focused on proving myself. If that means playing in the Minors — my dream is to play in the Majors — but if that’s where the team wants me, then that’s exactly where I’ll go.”
- On whether he’s surprised to be one step from the Majors at age 20: “Looking at where I was two years ago, playing Rookie-ball and now looking at where I am now, one could be surprised, but knowing how hard I have tried to work at this and how dedicated I am at this,” Sanchez said. “It’s not surprising in that respect.”
