Mesa Solar Sox
Sanchez made his professional debut for the Short-Season A State College Spikes on June 20, 2009. He played in four games for the Spikes before being promoted to the Single-A West Virginia Power. Sanchez finished the 2009 season with the Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats, and in 48 combined games that year, hit .309 with 7 home runs and 48 RBI. He played the entire 2010 season with the Bradenton Marauders, catching the inaugural game with the Pirates new Advanced-A affiliate. In 59 games, Sanchez batted .314 with 4 home runs and 35 RBI. In the offseason he played in 18 games for the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League (AFL), batting .206 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI.