On June 22, 2024, Sanchez and the Phillies agreed to a four–year, $22.5 million contract extension. This extension took place in the middle of Sanchez’s development. At the time it seemed like a great deal (it was), and today it is an even better deal. This is the best team friendly contract in the league. But how did we get here?
The Beginning
Cristopher Sanchez did not begin his career in Philadelphia. In fact, he was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in 2013. Sanchez spent time in the Rays organization from 2013 – 2019 but never cracked the major leagues. During the 2019 off-season Sanchez was traded to the Phillies for Curtis Mead. Sanchez did not play for the Phillies in 2020 due to the COVID cancellation of the minor league season.
Quick Note: This trade turned into a huge win for the Phillies. Mead was a solid minor league player for the Rays but was never able to make an impact in the bigs. He played parts of the 2024 and 2025 season with the Rays. He was traded in July to the White Sox, where he was optioned to Triple-A.
Making the Jump
Sanchez was called up to the club multiple times in 2020 but never made an appearance for the Phillies. This changed when Sanchez was called up to the majors on June 6, 2021. That day, Sanchez made his debut for the Phillies, coming in for the final four outs, in a 12-6 win over the Nationals. Sanchez got his first ever major league strikeouts. He first strike out came against current Phillies shortstop, Trea Turner; and his second came against Juan Soto, on what is now a patented Sanchez change up. Pretty awesome to have your first strikeouts come against those players.
In 2021 Sanchez made 7 total appearances for the club, starting one game. He finished the year with a 4.97 ERA/1.816 WHIP, with 13 ks and 7 walks over 12.2 innings pitched. These numbers reflect more of what the expectation was for Sanchez. He was supposed to be a nice role player to have on the staff. Instead, he has been able to do so much more.
The Development
In 2022 Sanchez was still a work in progress. He spent most of his time in Leigh Valley with the Iron Pigs but made multiple appearances for the Phillies. This shows that even in 2022 Sanchez was trending to be a big league pitcher, he just didn’t have all the tools yet. He struggled during his time with the Phillies in 2022, mainly featured in a bullpen role, pitching in 15 games with 3 being starts. He finished the season with a 5.63 ERA/1.375 WHIP, with 35 ks and 17 walks over 40 innings pitched.
2023
This is where the rise truly began for Sanchez. After being tossed between the minors and majors for parts of two seasons, Sanchez was finally able to make his mark. The lanky lefty was called up to the Phillies on June 17th to bring stability to the 5th starter spot. In his first game he threw 4 scoreless innings and never saw the minors again.
Sanchez was able to bring a calmness to the already impressive Phillies rotation by posting a 3.44 ERA/1.047 WHIP, with 96 ks and 16 walks over 99.1 innings pitched. That season Sanchez was an unexpected gift. Minor league call-ups haven’t worked well for the Phillies. I have a hard time remembering the last minor leaguer to make a consistent winning impact on the Phillies.
In 2022 he had 35 strikeouts and 17 walks pitching 40 innings. The following season pitching 90.1 innings he had 96 strikeouts and only 16 walks. That is the pitcher we are watching today. He always had it in him, whether some of us knew it then (unfortunately have to give credit to my brother here) or not there were flashes. Sanchez pitched 50 more innings, and all of his numbers improved, impressive stuff.
2024
Clearly the Phillies liked what they saw from Sanchez in 2023 because the following season he earned a 4 year, 22.5 million dollar contract. At the time this seemed like a decent deal. Sanchez had not fully proved himself yet but showed he deserved a spot in the rotation. He was a reliable depth piece the Phillies were able to extend for cheap. Then the season unfolded and the contract kept looking better and better for the Phillies.
Cristopher threw his first complete game shut out on June 28th, 2024, just six days after his extension. He also went on to win pitcher of the month in June with a 3-0 record, 1.64 era, and 23 ks. With his success in 2023, Sanchez made himself invaluable to the Phillies. He locked up his place in the rotation by posting a 3.32 ERA/1.244 WHIP, with 153ks and 44 walks over 181.2 innings pitched.
Although there were flashes in 2023, the 2024 season is when we saw the elite sinker change-up combo begin to take shape. We also started to see Sanchez was going to be more than a rotation depth piece. He was beginning to make his name as a big league player, even though guys like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola were aces in the Phillies rotation. Even with his growth, what more could we expect from Sanchez. Did he peak in 2024? Will he be able to take his game to another level?
2025
The answer was yes. He took his game to a new stratosphere. Sanchez was unbelievable for the Phillies last season. Wheeler was the early season Cy Young favorite, but as the season progressed Sanchez was pitching just as well if not better than Wheeler. It turns out we had two aces on the staff.
The entire 2025 season I was enamored with Sanchez. Every time he took the mound, you were thinking, wow he is just so good. It makes it more special that Sanchez worked his way up through the minors. His development may not be a surprise to teammates, but it certainly was to the fans. The guy was supposed to help stabilize the back end of our rotation and instead became one of if not the best lefty pitcher in baseball. One reason for this is his devastating change-up. The Sanchez change-up is the best in baseball and maybe the best pitch any pitcher has in the league. He finished the year with a 2.50 ERA/1.064 WHIP, with 212 ks and 44 walks over 202 innings pitched, leading to a second place finish in the NL Cy Young.
Grateful for Him
Back in 2023, Sanchez showed flashes of talent and was able to cement himself in the majors but wasn’t able to make a consistent impact. He took huge strides in 2024, and his pitching went to a whole new level in 2025. The best part about it, is that it doesn’t feel like a flash in the pan. He is a legit talent that hitters fear. Wheeler went down and Sanchez did not blink. He was phenomenal in both of his playoff starts, putting the Phillies in position to win each of his games.
The development of Cristopher Sanchez is one of the biggest jumps I have ever seen a pitcher make. It is a great story to show you don’t need to be a prized free agent or mega prospect to make a difference. Sanchez put his head down and went to work. As I am, all of Philadelphia should be grateful for Sanchez. Because of him the Phillies don’t have to worry about their rotation as much and can focus on acquiring position players. Getting to see him develop from a fringe piece to a consistent starter, and now watching him master his craft, Sanchez’s development story is one for the ages.
Photo Credit: Kyle Ross/Imagn Images
Categorized: Phillies
Liam Mahoney
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