Experienced Reliever Sanchez Added for 2021

CLEBURNE, Tex. (May 12, 2021) – The Cleburne Railroaders announced Wednesday the signing of right-handed pitcher Isaac Sanchez.

Sanchez is a 10-year professional with time in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners minor league systems, in addition to three seasons in the Frontier League. A native of the Bronx, New York, Sanchez owns a career record of 22-23 with a 3.79 ERA, picking up 22 saves along the way. In 396.0 innings, the right-hander has struck out 356 while walking 161 and allowing 382 hits.

Signed as an international free agent by the Pirates in 2010, Sanchez made his professional debut as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League. He climbed steadily up the Pittsburgh minor league ladder over the next five seasons, ultimately reaching High-A Bradenton in 2015. Sanchez spent one season as a starter in 2013, making 13 starts, but otherwise operated exclusively out of the bullpen while with the Pirates. His best season came in 2015, when he posted a 2.71 ERA with Bradenton over 42 relief appearances.

The Mariners selected Sanchez in the Triple-A portion of the 2015 Rule V Draft, assigning him to High-A Bakersfield. Despite the California League’s notoriously hitter-friendly environment, Sanchez thrived to the tune of a 2.97 ERA over the course of 34 games before earning a promotion to Double-A Jackson for five games to finish the year.

Sanchez was granted free agency following the 2016 season, later signing a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, though he never suited up in the Braves system. Instead, Sanchez made his independent debut the following year with the Schaumburg Boomers for a single game. He returned to Schaumburg to the begin the 2018 campaign before ending the season with the Joliet Slammers, where he pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 21.0 innings, locking down a career-best nine saves in the process.

 Sanchez rejoined the Slammers in 2019, making 29 more relief appearances. For his career, the 28-year-old has pitched in 232 games, 217 as a reliever.

The Railroaders open the 2021 season at home on May 18 against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. For information on partnerships, season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Railroaders main office at (817) 945-8705, or visit the Railroaders official website at www.railroaderbaseball.com.