Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

While Ricky Cabrera was the cream of the Reds’ international crop in 2022, signing for $2.7 million, he’s not the only prospect from that class who has made some noise in the system. Sanchez signed for just $70,000 and in many ways has outperformed Cabrera, starting with his .947 OPS during his debut in the Dominican Summer League. His debut in the United States was also productive, finishing in full-season ball, and while a rough 2024 stalled his progress, he put up much better numbers while repeating Single-A Daytona, earning a midseason promotion to High-A in the process.

Adjustments in his left-handed swing path led to better results last year for Sanchez. Learning better contact points and catching the ball out front has helped him impact the ball more. That and a lot of added physicality has made him a more dangerous hitter, one with extra-base authority he’s still learning to tap into. He continues to draw walks and even limited his strikeouts last year, upping his overall contact rate.

Sanchez also made progress defensively, continuing to display valuable positional versatility. The Reds will continue to keep him on the dirt at third and at shortstop, where he played better than expected in 2025. He also got reps in center field, giving him the chance to be a utility type with a solid bat in the future. He’s just 21 for all of the 2026 season, so there could be more to unlock ahead of a decision needed to be made on his 40-man roster status.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Signed for just $70,000 out of the Dominican Republic when the 2022 international signing period opened that January, Sanchez put himself on the map with a .948 OPS in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League. He followed that up with a solid U.S. debut in 2023 that ended with a bump up to full-season Daytona. His 2024 season wasn't nearly as successful, but a return to Single-A Daytona in '25 led to better results and a promotion to High-A Dayton during his age-20 season.

A left-handed hitter, Sanchez has made some adjustments at the plate that resulted in much better production in 2025. He's improved his swing path and found more success in trying to catch the ball out front more consistently. While he may never be a big power guy, he was starting to impact the ball more with some extra-base authority with Daytona this season, though he wasn't as productive up a level in Dayton. He continues to show an affinity for drawing walks and posting high OBPs with an advanced eye at the plate, even cutting down his strikeout rate this past season.

Sanchez has moved around some since joining the organization. He signed as an outfielder, playing right field in the DSL, and has also seen time in center, at shortstop and at third, where he's received most of his reps. The Reds would love to keep him in the center of the diamond as much as possible, especially because there would be more pressure on the power and run production to come if he's limited to a corner.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

The 2022 international signing period might best be known among Reds prospects fans as the time they signed Ricardo Cabrera, who received a $2.7 million bonus. It has a chance to be about more than the top guy they signed thanks to Sanchez, who also signed when the period opened in January of that year for $70,000. He certainly made people sit up and take notice when he posted a .948 OPS in the Dominican Summer League during his pro debut that summer and he continued to impress stateside in the Arizona Complex League, earning a late bump up to full-season Daytona. He then kept it going with a stint in the Australian Baseball League.

It's hard to tell which gets the Reds more excited -- Sanchez’s left-handed bat or his makeup and maturity. The left-handed hitter continues to have a very discerning eye at the plate and he walked as much as he struck out en route to a .468 on-base percentage in the ACL. His K rate did creep up, but there’s confidence he’ll make adjustments as he moves up the ladder. He has untapped raw power that hasn’t shown up in games, but he’s adding strength and it’s going to come. 

Sanchez’s defensive home is still a question. He signed as an outfielder, and he played a bunch of right field in the DSL. He’s seen a lot of time at shortstop (including in Australia), as well as third, and his arm works from the left side of the infield. The prevailing thought is shortstop isn’t going to work long-term, so look for him to see more time at third and probably left field as the Reds find ways to allow his advanced bat to move.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

When the 2022 international signing period opened in January of that year, the Reds handed out six bonuses of six figures or higher, topped by the $2.7 million given to Ricardo Cabrera. On the same day, they also inked Sanchez for a more modest $70,000, then saw him go out and hit .355 and finish with a .955 OPS, both of which would have been second in the Dominican Summer League had he collected enough at-bats to qualify. He’s continued to hit during his United States debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2023.

A left-handed hitter, Sanchez’s maturity and athleticism stood out in his first Spring Training this year and it’s carried over. He has a very advanced approach at the plate, drawing a ton of walks and keeping his strikeout rate low thus far in his brief pro career. While he hasn’t hit for much power yet, he is starting to fill out his 6-foot frame and the Reds feel confident there will be pop to come.

Signed initially as an outfielder, Sanchez played there and at third base during his pro debut and he’s played exclusively on the dirt this season, at shortstop and the hot corner. He has enough arm to handle the left side of the infield and there’s a chance his bat will eventually profile well at a corner infield or outfield spot in the future.

Awards

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/04/2025
04/20/2025

All-Spring Breakout First Team

Year	Team
2024

DSL Mid-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/06/2026	3B Carlos Sanchez assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
	03/05/2026	3B Carlos Sanchez assigned to Cincinnati Reds Prospects.
	06/24/2025	3B Carlos Sanchez assigned to Dayton Dragons from Daytona Tortugas.
	02/22/2025	3B Carlos Sanchez assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
	07/26/2024	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to Daytona Tortugas from ACL Reds.
	06/25/2024	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to ACL Reds from Daytona Tortugas.
	05/03/2024	Daytona Tortugas placed OF Carlos Sanchez on the 7-day injured list.
	05/03/2024	Daytona Tortugas placed OF Carlos Sanchez on the 7-day injured list.
	03/17/2024	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to Cincinnati Reds.
	03/07/2024	Cincinnati Reds Prospects activated OF Carlos Sanchez.
	11/26/2023	Perth Heat activated OF Carlos Sanchez from the 7-day injured list.
	11/24/2023	Perth Heat placed OF Carlos Sanchez on the 7-day injured list.
	11/18/2023	Perth Heat activated OF Carlos Sanchez from the reserve list.
	11/14/2023	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to Perth Heat.
	09/05/2023	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to Daytona Tortugas from ACL Reds.
	09/05/2023	Daytona Tortugas activated OF Carlos Sanchez.
	06/05/2023	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to ACL Reds.
	07/23/2022	OF Carlos Sanchez and assigned to DSL NL All-Stars.
	06/05/2022	OF Carlos Sanchez assigned to DSL Reds.
	01/15/2022	Cincinnati Reds signed free agent OF Carlos Sanchez to a minor league contract.