Syndergaard vs. Sanchez - Closer Than You Think

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - This could be best described as choosing between prime rib and filet mignon as both Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard have already captivated the imaginations of Major League Baseball fans at just 23 years of age.

Syndergaard, traded perhaps prematurely by former Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos in a trade that featured R.A Dickey, has taken baseball by storm with his 6'6" physique, long blonde hair and 100+mph fastball. His moniker "Thor" pretty much sums up all that Syndergaard has become in the Big Apple (New York) and right now has that city by the shoelaces as the 'ace' of a very young and talented staff.

But as Syndergaard racks up the strikeouts and admiration of fans from all across North America, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez is putting together a season that is just as good, if not better, than the flashy Texas in Mets pinstripes.

Sanchez and Syndergaard both pitched for the Vancouver Canadians in 2011, although they didn't overlap at all with Syndergaard getting sent up to Lansing before sanchez arrived for the post-season.

Along with Miami Marlins up-and-comer Justin Nicolino, those three created the "Three-Headed Monster" for the C's who sport a Championship ring from that season in large part of the efforts of those three and a few others like Kevin Pillar and Jon Berti.

The common ballpark discussion at the time was "If you were to project those three arms, how would you rank them as far as impact at the Major League level?"

All three had the stuff, and all three have been to the bright lights of the big leagues. It was hard to not say Syndergaard as he had the build, the electric arm and the eyes of a Major Leaguer. Nicolino had the work ethic and the passion and of the three at the time was the best 'pitcher' of the trio. Few said Sanchez as their first option.

Fast forward five years, and despite Syndergaard having pitched in a World Series (2015) in a game that he won (it was the only game the New York Mets would win against the Kansas City Royals), and a nod to the 2016 All-Star Game, you could make the argument that Sanchez is actually having a season almost equal to that of Syndergaard.

By The Numbers: (as of July 8, 2016)

Aaron Sanchez      - 17 GS, 9-1, 2.94 ERA, 113.1IP, 37ER, 99SO, 35BB, 1.182 WHIP

Noah Syndergaard - 16 GS, 9-3, 2.41 ERA, 101.0IP, 27ER, 123SO, 15BB, 1.059 WHIP

Sanchez has logged a few more innings, but Syndergaard has twice left games early as a precaution based on potential injury although he has not been on the DL in 2016. Syndergaard is a strikeout machine (averaging 11 per outing), but Sanchez is averaging nearly eight strikeouts per outing (7.9) and that is one of the best ratios in all of baseball.

Syndergaard knew that he would be one of the top dogs in the New York rotation heading into Spring Training where if you remember, Aaron Sanchez had to battle just to secure the #5 spot in the Jays regular season plans. The fact is, Sanchez, for perhaps the first time in his pro career, can exhale knowing he is a part of the Blue Jays long term plans, maybe even more than the electric arm of Marcus Stroman. Sanchez is a year or two at the most from becoming Toronto's Opening Day starter. Syndergaard is already there. But the gap between these two is getting closer and closer.

Health, inning limitations, roles moving forward - all major questions before the question of who is more valuable can truly be answered.

Could you imagine had Anthopoulos NOT traded Syndergaard to the Mets? The rotation could be... Ahhh, nevermind. Let's just enjoy the competition between Sanchez and Syndergaard and remember that for a brief period back in 2011, both of them were Vancouver Canadians.

Who do you think turned out to be the better pitcher? Visit our web poll on our main page and let us know!

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