Wikipedia

Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Alexis Sánchez (born December 12, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 and was named an All-Star in 2024. In 2026, Sánchez pitched for 50+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings, setting the 5th-longest streak all time in MLB history and the longest for a left-handed pitcher.[1]

Cristopher Sánchez
Sánchez in 2026
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 61
Pitcher
Born: (1996-12-12) December 12, 1996 (age 29)
La Romana, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 6, 2021, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through June 14, 2026)
Win–loss record38–24
Earned run average3.02
Strikeouts625
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Dominican Republic
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place2026 MiamiTeam

Career

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Tampa Bay Rays

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Sánchez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent at the age of 16 on July 15, 2013, for a $65,000 signing bonus.[2] He spent the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons with the DSL Rays.[3] Sánchez went 1–3 with a 7.77 ERA over 22 innings in 2014, 2–1 with a 3.54 ERA over 20+1⁄3 innings in 2015, and 5–3 with a 3.06 ERA over 61+2⁄3 innings in 2016. He spent the 2017 season with the Princeton Rays, going 1–6 with a 10.01 ERA over 38+2⁄3 innings. Sánchez split the 2018 season between Princeton and the Hudson Valley Renegades, going a combined 4–2 with a 4.50 ERA over 52 innings. He split the 2019 season between the Bowling Green Hot Rods, Charlotte Stone Crabs, and Durham Bulls, going 4–1 with a 2.26 ERA over 75+2⁄3 innings.[4]

Philadelphia Phillies

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Sánchez was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Curtis Mead on November 20, 2019.[5][6] Sánchez was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster after being acquired.[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On April 19, 2021, Sánchez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[9] However, he was optioned down to the minors the next day without pitching in the majors.[10] On May 3, Sánchez was recalled to the active roster but was again optioned down the next day without playing.[11] After long relievers Chase Anderson and David Hale were placed on the COVID-19 injured list, leaving the Phillies' bullpen lacking pitchers, Sánchez was recalled to the major leagues on June 6.[12] He made his major league debut that afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in the final 1+1⁄3 innings of a 12–6 win against the Washington Nationals.[13] He returned to the minors after that game, pitching six more times in the majors in 2021.[14] Sánchez also split 2022 between Philadelphia and Triple-A.[3]

In June 2023, Sánchez became a regular part of the Phillies' rotation after being called up from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.[15] In 19 games (18 starts), Sánchez compiled a 3–5 record and 3.44 ERA with 96 strikeouts across 99+1⁄3 innings pitched for Philadelphia.[3] He made his postseason debut later in the season on October 20 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He only lasted 2+1⁄3 innings in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.[16]

On June 22, 2024, Sánchez and the Phillies agreed to a four-year, $22.5 million contract extension.[17] On June 28, he threw his first career complete game shutout, allowing only three hits in a 2–0 win over the Miami Marlins.[18] Sánchez was named National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month for June, after posting 3 wins and 0 losses, with a 1.64 ERA and 23 strikeouts across 33 innings.[19] He was named to the MLB All-Star Game.[20] In 31 games (31 starts) during the 2024 season, Sánchez compiled a 11–9 record and 3.32 ERA with 153 strikeouts across 181+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Despite pitching well to start the 2025 season, Sánchez was controversially passed over for selection to the All-Star Game in favor of New York Mets pitcher David Peterson.[21] Despite this, the Phillies still rewarded him his $50,000 All-Star bonus.[22][23] On July 22, he pitched a complete game against the Boston Red Sox, recording the win after allowing only one run and striking out 12.[24] In 32 games (32 starts) during the 2025 season, Sánchez compiled a 13–5 record and 2.50 ERA with 212 strikeouts across 202 innings pitched. Sánchez placed second in NL Cy Young Award voting behind Paul Skenes.[25] In Game 1 of the NL Division Series, Sánchez struck out 8 in 5+2⁄3 innings, but Philadelphia lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[26]

On March 22, 2026, Sánchez and the Phillies agreed to a six-year, $107 million contract extension.[27][28] On May 16, Sánchez recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts in a 6–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the second complete-game shutout of his career. He gave up five hits and no walks on 108 pitches, extending his scoreless streak to 29+2⁄3 innings.[29] On May 27, 2026, against the San Diego Padres, Sánchez surpassed Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander for the longest scoreless-innings streak by any Phillies pitcher since 1893 (when the mound moved to its current distance). Sánchez's seven scoreless innings raised his total to 44+2⁄3 innings, eclipsing Alexander's 41-inning streak as a rookie in 1911.[30] In his next start on June 3 (again facing the Padres), after pitching a scoreless first inning, he set the MLB record for the longest scoreless-innings streak by a left-handed pitcher. However, he allowed a run in the seventh inning of that game, bringing his streak to an end at 50+2⁄3 innings, fifth-longest in MLB history.

International career

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Sánchez pitched for the Dominican Republic national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier12. He allowed four runs, including a home run to future teammate Alec Bohm, in a loss to the United States.[31][32] Sánchez returned to the Dominican Republic team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He had a four-strikeout inning against Nicaragua, with the leadoff batter reaching on a wild pitch. He allowed 3 runs in 1+1⁄3 innings.[33] He then earned a win in the quarterfinals against South Korea, striking out 8 in five innings in a 10–0 win.[34][35]

References

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  1. ↑ Casella, Paul (June 3, 2026). "Sánchez's streak ends at 50 2/3 scoreless innings -- 5th-longest all-time, tops for a lefty". MLB.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  2. ↑ Callis, Jim (November 22, 2019). "Here are 10 interesting 40-man roster additions". MLB.com. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Cristopher Sánchez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Dealt to Phillies". CBS Sports. RotoWire Staff. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  5. ↑ Lauber, Scott (November 20, 2019). "Phillies stockpile arms by adding four minor-league pitchers to 40-man roster". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ Topkin, Marc (November 20, 2019). "Rays move on from Matt Duffy, add five prospects to 40-man roster". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Phillies add four to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ Todd, Jeff (June 20, 2020). "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ Byrne, Connor (April 19, 2021). "Phillies Place 3 On Injured List". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Major League Baseball Transactions". MLB.com. April 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Phillies Select Enyel de los Santos". MLB Trade Rumors. May 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ Seidman, Corey (June 6, 2021). "Phillies place 2 pitchers on COVID injured list". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. ↑ Cooney, Kevin (June 6, 2021). "Netting collapses, Phils beat Nats; Voth HBP, broken nose". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Cristopher Sánchez 2021 Minor, Winter & WBC Leagues Game Logs & Splits". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  15. ↑ "PHILLIES ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES". MLB.com. June 17, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Cristopher Sánchez 2024 Postseason Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Phillies, LHP Cristopher Sanchez agree on 4-year extension". ESPN. Associated Press. June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ Coffey, Alex (June 28, 2024). "Cristopher Sánchez's career outing powers Phillies' 2–0 win over the Marlins". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  19. ↑ Dougherty, Tom (July 3, 2024). "Phillies' Bryce Harper, Cristopher Sanchez win MLB monthly awards for June". CBS News Philadelphia. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Sánchez added to NL roster, giving Phillies 8 (!) All-Stars". MLB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  21. ↑ Kopelman, Ethan (July 11, 2025). "Fans upset Cristopher Sanchez was passed over for All-Star Game despite having better numbers than David Peterson". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  22. ↑ Cooney, Bob (July 12, 2025). "Phillies activate All-Star bonus for Sanchez after MLB omitted him from honor". NBC10 Philadelphia. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Cristopher Sanchez | MLB Contracts & Salaries". Spotrac. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  24. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (July 23, 2025). "Cristopher Sánchez tosses complete game vs. Red Sox". MLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  25. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 13, 2025). "Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes are 2025 Cy Young Award winners". MLB.com. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ Calabrese, Joe (October 4, 2025). "Phillies drop Game 1 of NLDS after Dodger comeback, Henández home run". FOX 29 Philadelphia. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez agrees to new 6-year contract". ESPN.com. March 22, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (March 22, 2026). "Ace lefty Sánchez, Phillies agree to new 6-year deal through 2032". MLB.com. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  29. ↑ Graves, Will. "Cristopher Sánchez strikes out a career-high 13 as the Phillies beat the Pirates 6-0 to reach .500". apnews.com. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  30. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/news/cristopher-sanchez-phillies-scoreless-innings-streak-record
  31. ↑ WBSC (November 4, 2025). Alec Bohm took deep his now–Philadelphia Phillies teammate, Cristopher Sanchez | WBSC Premier12 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2026 – via YouTube.
  32. ↑ "USA defeats Dominican Republic, advances to Super Round". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  33. ↑ Feinsand, Mark (March 7, 2026). "A Classic first: DR's Sánchez strikes out four in an inning". MLB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Sánchez blanks Korea with 96 mph sinker in WBC quarterfinal". CHOSUNBIZ. March 14, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Cristopher Sánchez, Dominican Republic beat Korea 10-0 in WBC quarterfinals: Live updates and reaction". The Athletic. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
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