Anibal Sanchez, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 2/27/1984
Birthplace: Maracay, Venezuela

Anibal Sanchez, starting pitcher, was first signed by the Boston Red Sox in 2001. He played for two seasons in Venezuela and then had surgery in 2003 that caused him to miss the entire season. In 2004 and 2005, he played in Boston's minor league system. After the end of the 2005 season, the Red Sox traded him to the Miami Marlins.

Sanchez had a strong first season with the Marlins in 2006. He pitched 114.1 innings in 18 games and he finished with a 10-3 record and a 2.83 ERA. He ended the season on a high note, pitching a no-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 6, 2006.

Sanchez started the 2007 season with the Marlins but he was sent back to the minors. He then had surgery which ended his season. From 2007 through 2009, he played in just 32 games with the Marlins. In 2010, he had his first full season, pitching 195.0 innings in 32 games. He finished the season with a 13-12 record and a 3.55 ERA.

The 2011 season was another strong one for Sanchez. That year, he pitched a career high 196.1 innings in 32 games and he finished with an 8-9 record, 202 strikeouts to 64 walks, and a 3.67 ERA.

In July, 2012, after 19 games with the Marlins, Sanchez was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He finished the 2012 season with a 9-13 record and a 3.86 ERA in 19 games with the Marlins and 12 games with the Tigers. He signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Tigers in December, 2012.

Sanchez had his best season in 2013, leading the American League in ERA. He pitched 182.0 innings in 29 games and he had a career low 2.57 ERA with a career high 14 wins (to 8 losses) and 202 strikeouts to 54 walks. He finished the 2014 season with an 8-5 record, 102 strikeouts to 30 walks, and a 3.43 ERA in 126.0 innings in 22 games. He pitched just 2.0 innings in one game in the postseason.

On June 15, 2015, Sanchez pitched a complete game shutout. Two months later, his season ended with a rotator cuff injury. He finished the season with a 10-10 record, 138 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a 4.99 ERA in 157.0 innings in 25 games.

Sanchez pitched 26 games as a starter and 9 games as a reliever in 2016. He finished the season with 7 wins to 13 losses, 135 strikeouts to 53 walks, and a career high ERA of 5.87.

In 2017, Sanchez was again both a reliever and a starter, pitching from the starting rotation in 17 games and from the bullpen in 11 games. He finished the season with a 6.41 ERA, 3 wins to 7 losses, and 104 strikeouts to 29 walks in 105.1 innings.

Sanchez elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on February 20, 2018, and he was released on March 11th. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on March 16th. He finished the 2018 season with 7 wins and 6 losses, 135 strikeouts to 42 walks, and a 2.83 ERA in 136.2 innings in 25 games. In the postseason, he pitched 4.2 innings in 1 game and he gave up 5 hits, 2 home runs, and 3 runs. He struck out 3 batters and walked 1, and he had a 5.79 ERA.

Sanchez became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed with the Nationals on December 27, 2018. He finished the 2019 season with 11 wins and 8 losses, 134 strikeouts to 58 walks, and a 3.85 ERA in 166.0 innings in 30 games. In the postseason, he pitched 18.0 innings in 3 games and he gave up 15 hits, including 2 home runs, and 5 runs. He struck out 18 batters and walked 4, and he had 1 win and 1 loss and a 2.50 ERA.

Sanchez pitched in 11 games in 2020. He finished the season with 4 wins and 5 losses, 43 strikeouts to 18 walks, and a 6.62 ERA in 53.0 innings.

Sanchez elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He didn't play professional baseball in 2021.

Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on March 15, 2022.

Sanchez elected free agency on November 7, 2022.

Career pitching statistics for Sanchez through 2020 include:

• 350 games played
• 1,948.1 innings pitched
• 112-113 win-loss record
• 1,726 strikeouts to 653 walks
• 4.05 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Anibal Sanchez
ESPN - Anibal Sanchez