Pirates optioned C Tony Sanchez to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 25-year-old backstop acquitted himself well during his brief stay with the Pirates, hitting .333/.333/.389 with four RBI in 18 at-bats. He'll continue to function as organizational depth and will return to the Pirates should they suffer any injuries behind the dish.

Tony Sanchez hit a two-run single in the Pirates' loss to the Cubs on Thursday at PNC Park.

It was his only hit of the game and it wasn't enough to push Pittsburgh to a three-game sweep. Sanchez is serving as the Bucs' backup to catcher Russell Martin.

Tony Sanchez went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer to lead the Pirates past the Yankees 6-5 on Wednesday.

Sanchez's homer came off Chase Whitley. He'll never live up to the expectations that caused the Pirates to make him the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, but he has progressed enough to suggest a future as a backup catcher. It's not supposed to happen this season, though, not after the Pirates acquired Chris Stewart from the Yankees to play behind Russell Martin.

Pirates recalled C Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The 25-year-old catcher has hit just .220/.267/.341 in 15 games this season for Pittsburgh. He will serve only as emergency catching depth down the stretch.

Pirates optioned C Tony Sanchez to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The move clears a spot for John Buck on the active roster. Sanchez should be back soon enough.

2009 first-round pick Tony Sanchez hit his first major league homer Saturday off the Giants' Tim Lincecum.

The homer came in his 39th major league at-bat. Sanchez is hitting .220 while serving as Russell Martin's backup. He'll probably never be anything more than a backup, but he might have some long-term value in that role.

Pirates recalled C Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Sanchez picked up two hits in eight at-bats during his time with the big club earlier this season. He'll provide some insurance behind the plate with both Russell Martin (knee) and Mike McKenry (knee) banged up.

Pirates optioned C Tony Sanchez to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Sanchez picked up two hits in eight at-bats during his time with the big club. He'll return to a .306/.389/.563 batting line with nine homers and 35 RBI at Triple-A.

Tony Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a double Sunday against the Angels.

His lone hit was a ground rule double in the second inning off Joe Blanton. Sanchez served as the Pirates designated hitter in his MLB debut, but could see playing time as a backup to Russell Martin.

Pirates recalled C Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

No word yet on the corresponding roster move. Sanchez, the No. 4 overall pick in 2009, is batting .306/.389/.563 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 55 games at the Triple-A level this season.

Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports that the Pirates could call up Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Tony Sanchez tripled in two runs and walked Sunday in the Pirates' 8-6 win over the Astros.

When the Pirates made Sanchez the fourth overall pick in the 2009 draft, they were hoping he'd be their starting catcher by now. Instead, he looks like a future backup at best. He'll be the starter at Triple-A Indianapolis this year.

Pirates purchased the contract of C Tony Sanchez from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Sanchez, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2009 draft, was a given to be protected. The 24-year-old's star has faded a bit and he struggled with the bat following his promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis this season, but he has been praised for his defense and game-calling. There's a chance we could see him in the big leagues at some point in 2013.

Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez has been promoted to Triple-A.

Sanchez, 24, was the fourth pick in 2009's First-Year Player Draft. He batted just .241 with a .658 OPS in 118 games last year with Double-A Altoona, causing him to drop from Baseball America's 46th overall prospect prior to 2011 to unranked this winter. Sanchez, however, improved to a .277/.373/.387 slash line over 158 plate appearances this year to earn the promotion. We aren't terribly excited about his prospects, as a touted 24-year-old at Double-A should be expected to shred that level's pitching, but it isn't as though Pittsburgh has a glut of catching talent above him.

Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez suffered a broken jaw earlier this offseason in a bar brawl.

"Tony continues to develop as a player," Pirates GM Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, refusing to elaborate on the details of the fight. "As with any young player, there are good days and days when we need to make adjustments. We are expecting Tony to come into spring training ready to go and ready to have a great season." The former No. 4 overall pick batted just .241 with a .658 OPS in 118 games last year with Double-A Altoona. He was suspended three games in May for criticizing umpires on his personal Twitter account.

Despite injuries to their top two catchers, the Pirates will not rush prospect Tony Sanchez to the majors.

Sanchez is off to a so-so start at Double-A Altoona, batting .262/.370/.341 with two homers and 20 RBI. "Tony has made great progress on all fronts," GM Neal Huntington said. "We just didn't feel like this was the right time to bring him to the Major Leagues. We've still got some things that he needs to accomplish before he goes to Triple-A. Tony is still driving the baseball. We're trying to get him to stay in the middle of the field. Sometimes young guys when their power numbers are down try to compensate by trying to yank a little bit more."

Pirates prospect Tony Sanchez has been benched three games for using Twitter to criticize umpires.

Sanchez, the 4th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft, has since shut down his Twitter account. The promising young catcher is batting .274/.384/.349 with one homer and 14 RBI in 31 games at Double-A Altoona. He should be able to quickly put this incident behind him.

The Pirates have invited Tony Sanchez to join the team at spring training.

The Pirates selected Sanchez with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 Amateur Draft. Despite being injured half of the the 2010 season, the Single-A Bradenton catcher managed a 314/.414/.454 batting line with four homers and 35 RBI over 207 at-bats. Despite the invitation, this season he is expected to continue developing in the minors.

The Pirates may ask catching prospect Tony Sanchez (jaw) to play winter ball.

"He had such a great first half, we want to keep the momentum going," Bucs GM Neal Huntington said Sunday. Sanchez was hit in the face with a pitch while playing for Single-A Bradenton in June and suffered a broken jaw. He eventually underwent surgery that will keep him sidelined through September.

Pirates general Neal Huntington said prospect catcher Tony Sanchez (jaw) could play again this season.

Sanchez underwent jaw surgery three weeks ago and just last week it was reported that he was expected to miss the rest of the season. If last year's No. 4 overall pick manages to make it back, he would likely only play for the season's final two weeks.