JUPITER, Fla. -- Nearly three months since being traded to the Marlins organization, right-hander Sixto Sanchez was more than ready to make his season debut Thursday for Class A Advanced Jupiter. But the elements had other ideas.

After a nearly 50-minute rain delay, the Hammerheads’ game against Bradenton at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium was postponed, washing out the anticipated first start of Miami's top prospect.

Sanchez said he is now slated to start Friday for Jupiter at Port Charlotte.

“What can I tell you, I was very anxious today,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I was ready to go out there, and I just wanted to pitch for the first time this year.”

Ranked 26th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospect list, Sanchez projects as a future top of the rotation candidate. But the organization has built up the hard-throwing 20-year-old's innings slowly because he had an injury-marred 2018 campaign.

Physically, Sanchez has been healthy since he was acquired in early February from the Phillies as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade. In the deal, Miami also landed catcher Jorge Alfaro, left-handed prospect Will Stewart and $250,000 of international bonus money.

Sanchez dealt with right forearm soreness while at Class A Advanced Clearwater last year. He made just eight starts and was 4-3 with a 2.51 ERA, logging 46 2/3 innings, with 45 strikeouts and 11 walks.

A sore collarbone also derailed Sanchez’s plans to pitch in the Arizona Fall League last offseason. 

Because of his injury setbacks last year, the Marlins were extra careful with Sanchez, putting him on a different throwing schedule than the rest of the Minor Leaguers. He's already made a couple of appearances in extended spring games, sporting his 98 mph fastball.

In terms of the big picture, Sanchez also will be on an innings limit this season, so making his season debut in early May doesn’t interfere with their long-range plans.

With rain in the forecast around the scheduled 6:35 p.m. ET start time, the tarp was placed on the field even before the rain started. Sanchez did not do any pregame throwing off the mound.

“All I did was my routine before I go out to pitch,” he said. “I just went out to the weight room and did my daily routine.”

How many starts Sanchez will make for the Hammerheads is unclear, because he eventually is expected to jump to Double-A Jacksonville. 

Sanchez’s anticipated start at Jupiter received plenty of media attention, and a solid crowd was expected. But once the heavy rains picked up, the game was called.

“I’m always prepared,” Sanchez said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it happen today. I just always have a purpose when I come out to the complex. I’m just going to keep working.”