Jesus Sanchez and Lewin Diaz
May 9th, 2021
Norfolk Tide versus Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
The new Minor League season was only days old when me and the family got down to see the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. It was Mother’s Day weekend and we were taking the week to travel and take in some games. The stadium, in downtown Jacksonville and right across from the Jaguars field, was fit for their new AAA status. They’d been AA before the great realignment that saw 40 some-odd teams lose their affiliation and dozens of others get shuffled around. It worked well for the team my whacky father kept calling the “Jimbo Shrump” (and giggling like a kid).
Anyway, it was hot and the place wasn’t crowded. Two big Marlins prospects caught my eye, Jesus Sanchez and Lewin Diaz.
Jesus Sanchez was an electrifying presence, always pumped to be hitting and even sometimes a bit cocky. He went 3-5 with a triple in May 9th’s game. In the field, however, he seemed too laid back. It’s like all that natural talent that oozes out of him has made things a tad too easy. Sometimes that can hurt a guy’s work-ethic. The result? He made quite a few misplays – and these were on routine plays.
Overall, I was quite impressed with his batting prowess. It seemed like he was a man playing with boys at the plate. Nevertheless, to be a top-notch player he probably needs to dial back his showmanship a little bit.
Lewin Diaz is a power hitting first baseman prospect. Usually, power hitting lefties like to get pull happy and hit terribly vs lefties. He started against the Norfolk Tide’s lefty starter Bruce Zimmerman. He really shocked me when he slapped the ball the other way in his first at bat.
I figured it was a fluke. I mean, who goes the other way these days, right?
But I was wrong. In his next at bat he slapped another one to the other side of the diamond and helped make it a short night for the Tides starter. I was impressed. To see a young lefty power hitter slapping pitches the other way nowadays is rare. Defensively, though, his range at first base appeared to be abysmal. There was a ground ball 2 feet from him and he stood there and then dove. He might have just misread it, but it didn’t look too good.
In all, both guys impressed at the plate but seem to need a bit of seasoning in the field.
Man, it’s good to be out at the ballpark again.