Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants lost a Gold Glover who couldn’t find an avenue toward the big leagues.
Yolmer Sanchez, an infielder with a flashy glove who was signed this offseason, requested and was granted his release, the team announced Friday before they hosted the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park.
Sanchez had been earmarked for the ballclub but dealt with back spasms that forced him out of the picture as the season dawned. He rehabbed in Sacramento but had not been called up; while he was away, Donovan Solano has become a star, Wilmer Flores has been terrific with the bat and Mauricio Dubon also has seen time at second. There was not room for the 28-year-old.
Sanchez had retooled his swing this offseason with Giants batting coach Justin Viele — even though Sanchez was not yet a Giant and Viele not yet a Giants hitting coach. Sanchez struggled in spring training 1.0 with the new-look swing, but there was belief from Viele that the time off between camps had freshened his mind.
If Sanchez’s swing has come around, another team would be the benefactor.