Jeff Tully
With less than a month left until the opening of spring training,
Freddy Sanchez is in the best shape of his life.
Along with his physical condition, the former Glendale Community
College baseball star is also invigorated with renewed
self-confidence and is enthusiastic about his future as an infielder
for the Boston Red Sox.
"I can't wait for spring training to start," said Sanchez, who is
scheduled to report Feb. 19 to the team's facility at City of Palms
Park in Fort Myers, Fla. "It's just nice knowing that I will be
training with the big club. I'm ready to prove myself."
Sanchez, 25 -- who graduated from Burbank High in 1996 -- has
continued a meteoric climb through the Red Sox organization since
being drafted in the 11th round of the 2000 first-year-player draft.
Last season, he began the year in double-A Trenton and earned a
promotion to triple-A Pawtucket. He ended the campaign with Boston,
after being called up Sept. 1.
The sure-handed infielder was honored as the Red Sox's Minor
League Player of the Year, hitting .318 with 24 stolen bases with
Trenton and Pawtucket. It was the second straight year Sanchez earned
the distinction.
With a successful winter-league season in the Mexican League
behind him, Sanchez said he is prepared to battle for the starting
second base spot with the Red Sox.
However, Sanchez's chance at being a full-time starter was dealt a
blow in December when Boston obtained 28-year-old Todd Walker from
the Cincinnati Reds, and slated him as the team's regular second
baseman. Walker has one year left on a three-year contract that will
pay him $3.4 million this season.
"I got two calls from the Red Sox before the trade was announced,"
Sanchez said. "They were very nice about the whole situation and they
reassured me that I was still in their plans for the future.
"What they really want is for me to get some more experience
playing in triple A. I was with Pawtucket only for a short time last
season and they want to give me more time to improve.
