Sixto Sánchez Encarnación (born July 29, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Early life Sánchez was born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. He played shortstop as a youth. Career Philadelphia Phillies Minor Leagues The Philadelphia Phillies happened upon Sánchez when they saw him throwing batting practice at a workout for a Cuban catcher the Phillies were scouting in 2014. He signed with the Phillies for a $35,000 signing bonus as an international free agent in February 2015. He made his professional debut as a pitcher that year with the Dominican Summer League Phillies. He had 1–2 win–loss record with a 4.56 earned run average. He pitched in 2016 with the Rookie Gulf Coast Phillies. He was 5–0 (tied for 4th in the Gulf Coast League in wins) with an 0.50 ERA, a WHIP of 0.759, and a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At 17 years of age, his fastball was 97-98 mph. He was named both a Baseball America Rookie All Star, and a Gulf Coast League Post-Season All Star. Baseball America named him the Number 80 prospect in baseball. Sánchez started 2017 with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, and was promoted to the Class A+ Clearwater Threshers during the season, with whom he was the youngest pitcher in the Florida State League. On July 30 he was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week. He threw a fastball in the high 90s that reached 102 mph. Between the two teams he was 5–7 with a 3.03 ERA, a WHIP of 0.958, and a 4.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Baseball America named him the Number 25 prospect in baseball, MLB.com ranked him as the Number 26 prospect, and MLB Pipeline named him the No. 47 prospect. Sánchez entered 2018 as the Phillies number one prospect and one of the top prospects overall in the minors, pitching again for Clearwater. He has been compared to Pedro Martinez. On June 3 he was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, and he was named a Florida State League Mid-Season All Star. The Phillies shut him down after June 3 due to right elbow inflammation. He was 4–3 with a 2.51 ERA, and a 4.09 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Baseball America named him the Number 13 prospect in baseball, MLB Pipeline named him the No. 21 prospect, and Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the Number 23 prospect.