Sanchez now on other side of UM-Marlins exhibition

There goes Michael Neu's claim to fame.

When Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez takes the field Wednesday afternoon against the University of Miami, Neu no longer will be the only player whio has suited up for both teams in the annual exhibition.

The Marlins kick off their spring schedule at Roger Dean Stadium with their annual friendly against the Hurricanes. Sanchez will get the start at first, across the diamond from where he played in 2003 as a member of the Hurricanes. The following year Sanchez again was on the field, only this time against the defending World Series champions.

"We looked at them and the way they would prepare and the way they would practice knowing one day we would like to be in the same position as them, being able to play in a major league game," Sanchez said. "It was more of a learning experience as well as an honor to go out there and be on the same field as a major league baseball team."

Sanchez remembered facing then prospect Dontrelle Willis in 2003 and feeling pretty good about himself for ripping a pitch to center. Juan Pierre, though, showed Sanchez how tough it is to get a ball in the gap past a speedy major league center-fielder.

"[Willis] was throwing hard and it was nasty," Sanchez said. "I was almost positive when I hit it that it was a double. Juan Pierre catches it in front of him."

Sanchez, who will get two at-bats along with the rest of the starting position players, hopes to perform a little better than Neu. A right-handed reliever and the closer on the Hurricanes' 1999 College World Series-winning squad, Neu in 2004 allowed a run on three hits, walked two and struck out three in two innings of the 7-6 Marlins win.

The Marlins are 7-1-1 all-time against the Hurricanes, the collegians' lone win coming in 2005. That summer, the Marlins selected Sanchez in the fourth round of the draft.

Ricky Nolasco will start for the Marlins, who will field a lineup of their 2009 regulars: Chris Coghlan, Cameron Maybin, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla, John Baker, Cody Ross and Sanchez.



(sun-sentinel.com)