(STATE COLLEGE, PA)— The State College Spikes announced today that they will receive Tony Sanchez, the first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft, on Saturday.

Sanchez will join the Spikes to their road game against the Williamsport Crosscutters on Saturday, and will make his home debut in a Spikes uniform on Sunday, June 21, when the Spikes take on the Crosscutters at 6:05 p.m.

Sanchez is expected to remain with the club through their three-game road series from June 22-24 against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, after which he is expected to report to Single-A West Virginia to continue his path to Pittsburgh.

A native of Miami, the Boston College alum was the fourth overall pick in the 2009 Draft. Sanchez is a finalist for the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, presented annually to the nation’s top catcher, after hitting .346 this year with 14 home runs and 51 runs batted in for the Eagles. Sanchez’s 63 runs in the 2009 season are also a Boston College record.

Sanchez will become the second Pirates’ first-round draft choice to play for the Spikes. 2007 first-rounder Daniel Moskos was promoted to State College from the Rookie-level Bradenton Pirates in August of that season. Moskos made 11 relief appearances and earning one save.

For more information, contact Joe Putnam at (814) 272-1711, ext. 372, or at jputnam@statecollegespikes.com.

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