Blue Jays sign catcher Tony Sanchez to minor-league deal

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Tony Sanchez, right, tries to handle the throw from the outfield as Philadelphia Phillies' Odubel Herrera scores. (Matt Slocum/AP)

With three days remaining before the Toronto Blue Jays’ pitchers and catchers have their first practice the team has added some depth behind the plate.

The club announced on Friday that they’d come to terms with Tony Sanchez on a minor-league deal.

Sanchez has appeared in 51 games at the major-league level in his career posting a .259/.303/.378 line with four home runs and 18 RBI and throwing out five of 30 base stealers.

The 27-year-old was originally selected fourth overall in the 2009 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Boston College. He made Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect list twice ranking 79th in 2010 and 46th in 2011.

Since then Sanchez has struggled to make an MLB impact, but he’s posted solid numbers in 313 games at the triple-A level hitting .248/.342/.415 with 32 home runs and 160 RBI, while throwing out 22 percent of base runners.

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