Topic: Gaby Sanchez

Gabriel "Gaby" Sanchez (born September 2, 1983 in Miami, Florida) is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Florida Marlins. He bats and throws right-handed. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.

Sanchez was a 15th round pick (460th overall) of the Seattle Mariners out of Brito Miami Private School in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to attend the University of Miami instead. He signed with the Florida Marlins after they selected him in the 4th round (126th overall) three years later in 2005.

In his first professional season in 2005, Sanchez played mostly third base for the Jamestown Jammers. He made the Short-Season All-Star game as the designated hitter for Jamestown, and was also MVP of the All-Star game in the New York-Penn League. In 2006, Sanchez played for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers where he batted .317 with 14 home runs in 55 games before a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque. In 2007, Sanchez played for Single-A Advanced Jupiter; he batted .279, but hit only 9 home runs in 133 games. In 2008, he batted .314 with 17 home runs and 92 RBI for Double-A Carolina en route to winning the Southern League MVP award.