BRADENTON, Fla. - In 18 months, Freddy Sanchez has gone from being the answer at second base to a question mark for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sanchez, a 27-year-old infielder acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the 2003 trading deadline, is fighting to make the opening day roster after missing half of last season recovering from right ankle surgery. If Sanchez remains healthy this spring, he'll have a chance to win a job as the team's backup middle infielder.

"This is a great opportunity to show what I can do," Sanchez said. "That feels good, especially looking back to where I was at this time last year."

Sanchez was confined to the training room last spring when he was slow recovering from a procedure in which a bone spur was removed from his ankle. He watched Jose Castillo and Bobby Hill compete for the starting job.

Castillo returns as the starter after a strong rookie year. Hill is in camp trying to reclaim his roster spot. Sanchez could return to the mix with a strong spring.

"We have an opportunity to evaluate and find out what we've got on the field," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "When he's not on the field, you can only speculate."

Sanchez was considered one of Boston's top prospects when he came to the Pirates in a July 31, 2003, deal that sent pitcher Jeff Suppan to the Red Sox. As a shortstop at Class AAA Pawtucket, Sanchez batted .301 in 2002 and .341 in 2003, but the Pirates planned to have him fill a gaping hole at second base.

Those plans changed when Sanchez aggravated an ankle injury in his first game at Class AAA Nashville and didn't suit up again that season. He also missed the first three months of last season while his ankle healed from surgery that was performed in November 2003.

Sanchez was limited to 44 games at Nashville in 2004, batting .264 with one homer and 11 RBI. Called up by the Pirates in September, he struggled again at the plate, batting .158 with no extra-base hits in nine games.

The numbers didn't improve until Sanchez went to the developmental Arizona Fall League at the end of the season. He finished fifth in the league with a .364 average and .444 on-base percentage. He also had 10 doubles, three homers and 21 RBIs in 28 games.

"That helped my confidence," Sanchez said. "Before, I couldn't do what I wanted to do. To be able to come back from that injury really boosted my confidence."

Sanchez said the ankle won't be an issue this spring.

"I haven't had any pain," he said. "If there is soreness, I know now that I will be able to play through it. I won't have to baby it at all."

The next step for Sanchez is proving he belongs on the Pirates' roster.

"This is my chance," he said. "I feel like I can do it. I'm up for the challenge."

NOTES: Left-hander Oliver Perez is scheduled to throw Tuesday for the second time this spring since experiencing stiffness in his left shoulder. ... Josh Fogg will start Tuesday when the Pirates play a tune-up game against Valparaiso University. ... Ryan Vogelsong will start Wednesday in a tune-up against Manatee Community College.