Frederick Phillip "Freddy" Sanchez, Jr. (born
December 21, 1977 in Hollywood, California) is an
infielder in Major League Baseball. Since 2002,
Sanchez has played for the Boston Red Sox (2002-03)
and Pittsburgh Pirates (2003-Present). He bats and
throws right-handed.
Sanchez graduated in 1996 from Burbank High School
in Burbank, California, where he was a consistent
three-year varsity player. In his senior year he was
named MVP of the talent-filled foothill league of
the CIF. He also starred in the Daily News Bernie
Milligan All-Star Game, where he earned MVP honors.
While in high school, he played on the same summer
league team as current teammate Jack Wilson. (At the
time Sanchez played the more demanding shortstop
position while Wilson played second base.)
His success in high school was nothing short of
miraculous. Sanchez was born with a severely
pigeon-toed left foot and a club right foot, and his
parents had received a medical diagnosis that he
might never walk. He underwent surgery to correct
his foot problems at 13 months, and then had to
undergo years of physical therapy before he could
walk properly.
He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 30th
round of the first year player draft, but opted not
to sign. Sanchez went to Glendale Community College
for two years, where he led the team to a
co-championship in the Western State conference,
which was also the college's first playoff
appearance since 1981. He transferred to Dallas
Baptist University as a Junior, where he played in
the NAIA College World Series. In his senior year,
he transferred to Oklahoma City University in 2000,
where he was named a NAIA All-Star.
