Pilots’ Sanchez makes program history with 10th-round MLB Draft selection
JOURNAL SPORTS
Carlos Sanchez turned plenty of heads in the LSU Shreveport baseball lineup this spring and Sunday, that paid off in a big way.
Sanchez became the first Pilot since 2015 chosen in the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft – and became the program’s highest-ever selection — when the Baltimore Orioles picked him as a catcher in the 10th round with the 290th overall pick. Sanchez was a utility player for LSUS, almost exclusively in the outfield.
The junior from Maracaibo, Venezuela, arrived at LSUS last summer after a successful junior college career. Sanchez began at St. Petersburg College in 2024, batting .370 with four home runs, 29 RBI, and 20 stolen bases to earn first-team all-conference and all-state honors. He then transferred to Florida SouthWestern, helping the Buccaneers reach the NJCAA World Series for the first time in program history before signing with the reigning NAIA national champion Pilots.
With the Pilots in 2026, Sanchez established himself as one of the NAIA’s top all-around players. His honors included NAIA first-team All-America, first-team All-Louisiana, Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year, first team All-RRAC, RRAC Golden Glove, RRAC All-Tournament Team.
At the plate, Sanchez batted .388 with 88 hits, 82 RBI, 20 doubles, 13 triples, and 12 home runs. His 13 triples tied the LSUS single-season record and highlighted one of the nation’s most productive offensive seasons.
His contributions helped the Pilots post a 43-14 overall record, capture the RRAC Baseball Tournament Championship, and advance to the championship game of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round Shreveport Bracket. The Pilots also finished tied for No. 11 in the final NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Poll.
Prior Pilot MLB Draft picks are Jared West (2015), Seattle Mariners (38th round); three in 2010 – Chase Wentz, Pittsburgh Pirates (18th round), Justin Ennis, Pittsburgh (33rd round), and Jeff Nadeau, St. Louis Cardinals (38th round); and Aaron McRae (2003), Detroit Tigers (27th round).
Eleven other LSUS players have signed free agent deals with big league organizations, including pitcher Draven Zeigler last summer with Pittsburgh.