Mariners prospect Sanchez passes away

Mariners pitching prospect Victor Sanchez, who suffered a head injury on Feb. 14, passed away on Saturday.

The 20-year-old right-hander suffered a double skull fracture and brain hematoma after getting hit by a boat while swimming off the coast of Carupano in his native Venezuela. He underwent a craniectomy to remove portions of his cranium, was in an induced coma since Feb. 17 and was later moved to a hospital in Caracas. On Feb. 23, Sanchez had shown slight brain activity, but there had not been any updates since.

The Mariners confirmed the report late Saturday night.

"The Seattle Mariners are saddened to learn of the passing of Victor Sanchez," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. "Victor was a tremendous young man and a wonderful teammate. He was a very talented player who was close to fulfilling his promise as a Major Leaguer. He will be missed by his teammates, and the coaches and staff at the Mariners.

"The entire Mariners organization sends our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time," Zduriencik said.

Signed as a non-drafted free agent in July, 2011, Sanchez made 58 Minor League starts over three years. He was 19-14 overall with a 3.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts, most recently playing for Double-A Jackson last season. Sanchez's most notable achievement on the field was a nine-inning no-hitter in 2013 while pitching for Class A Clinton.

Tragic news about Victor Sanchez. A sad day for the Mariners family. He left many great memories. RIP 2013 No-No https://t.co/1r7QeLD3tT

- Clinton LumberKings (@LumberKings) March 29, 2015

Sanchez ended the 2014 season as the Mariners' No. 11 prospect.