Alejandro âÂÂAlexâ Sanabia (born September 8, 1988) is an American right-handed professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida/Miami Marlins.
Sanabia was born in San Diego, California on September 8, 1998. He attended Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. As a senior in 2006, Sanabia earned first-team All-CIF San Diego Section Division II honors and was named the Metro Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Prior to playing professionally, Sanabia attended Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 32nd round of the 2006 amateur draft and began his professional career that season, playing for the rookieâÂÂlevel Gulf Coast League Marlins. With them, Sanabia went 3âÂÂ1 with a 3.24 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 relief appearances. He pitched for the LowâÂÂA Jamestown Jammers in 2007, going 2âÂÂ6 with a 5.13 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 15 starts. In 2008 with the SingleâÂÂA Greensboro Grasshoppers, Sanabia went 5âÂÂ5 with a 4.93 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 19 starts. With the HighâÂÂA Jupiter Hammerheads in 2009, Sanabia went 9-5 with a 3.45 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 19 games (18 starts). He began the 2010 season with the DoubleâÂÂA Jacksonville Suns, going 5âÂÂ1 with a 2.03 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 14 starts prior to his call up.
Sanabia made his major league debut on June 24, 2010, pitching innings in relief and posting an ERA of 5.40 against the Baltimore Orioles. He appeared in 15 games for the Marlins that year, making 12 starts, going 5âÂÂ3 with a 3.73 ERA and 47 strikeouts.
In 2011 for Miami, Sanabia went posted a 3.27 ERA and 8 strikeouts in three games (two starts). In the minor leagues, he went 0âÂÂ5 with a 5.75 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Sanabia began 2012 with the TripleâÂÂA New Orleans Zephyrs. He finished the 2012 season with the Zephyrs going 6-7 with a 4.06 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, in innings pitched, with 24 walks, 63 strikeouts in 17 games started.
On April 5, 2013, Sanabia made his first start since 2011, pitching 6 shutout innings against the New York Mets and picking up the win. In a May 20 start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sanabia gained infamy for spitting on the baseball and proceeding to throw it, something he claimed he didn't know was illegal. He got the win in that start, giving up 1 run in innings. Sanabia's next start, against the White Sox, was limited to 4 innings due to groin injury, and he was placed on the disabled list, and his season was ended.
Sanabia was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 4, 2013. On April 16, 2014, Sanabia was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. In 8 games (4 starts) for the TripleâÂÂA Reno Aces, he recorded an 8.10 ERA with 11 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 5, Sanabia was released by the Diamondbacks organization.
Sanabia returned to the Miami Marlins on a minor league contract on May 8, 2014. His 2014 minor league stats with Reno and the TripleâÂÂA New Orleans Zephyrs were a combined 7âÂÂ5 record, a 4.70 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched.
On November 24, 2014, Sanabia signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization. He spent the season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees and elected free agency on November 6, 2015.
On March 7, 2016, Sanabia signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.
On May 9, 2016, Sanabia had his contract purchased by the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to the TripleâÂÂA Iowa Cubs. On June 13, the Cubs organization released Sanabia after he posted a 6.34 ERA in Iowa.
On June 16, 2016, Sanabia signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. Sanabia pitched to a 3.86 ERA with a 3-1 record in 11 games for the Toros in 2017. Sanabia began the 2018 season on the disabled list.
On July 27, 2018, Sanabia was traded to the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos to complete a deal that saw the Tecolotes acquire Sergio Mitre. In 8 games (7 starts) for Dos Laredos, he struggled to a 6.68 ERA with 23 strikeouts across innings pitched.
On January 9, 2019, Sanabia was traded to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. In 14 starts for Aguascalientes, Sanabia struggled to a 1-8 record and 7.85 ERA with 41 strikeouts across innings pitched.
On July 10, 2019, Sanabia was loaned to the Bravos de León of the Mexican League for the remainder of the season. In eight starts for the Bravos, he struggled to a 1-5 record and 6.50 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 36 innings of work. Sanabia was returned to Aguascalientes after the season, but was released by the team on March 8, 2020.
On March 9, 2021, Sanabia signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In six starts with York, Sanabia logged a 3-0 record and 2.43 ERA with 24 strikeouts across innings pitched.
On June 29, 2021, SanabiaâÂÂs contract was purchased by the New York Mets organization. Sanabia pitched to a 4.34 ERA in 12 appearances split between the Triple-A Syracuse Mets and Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies. On November 7, Sanabia elected free agency.
On February 22, 2022, Sanabia re-signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 17 starts for the Revolution, Sanabia compiled a 4-5 record and 4.86 ERA with 74 strikeouts over 87 innings of work.
On August 16, 2022, Sanabia was traded to the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Sanabia made 5 starts for Gastonia to round out the year, posting a pristine 3âÂÂ0 record and 0.93 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.
On April 28, 2023, Sanabia re-signed with Gastonia. He started 6 games for the Honey Hunters, registering a 4âÂÂ0 record and 3.94 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched. Sanabia was released by Gastonia on May 30.
On June 2, 2023, Sanabia signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. In 10 starts for the team, he went 1âÂÂ2 with a 5.32 ERA and 38 strikeouts across innings of work.
Sanabia made 14 starts for Saltillo in 2024, posting a 4âÂÂ6 record and 3.45 ERA with 39 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Sanabia made three starts for Saltillo in 2025, recording a 5.40 ERA with five strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 30, 2025, Sanabia was released by the Saraperos.
On June 3, 2025, Sanabia signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. In two appearances for Tijuana, he struggled to a 15.19 ERA with three strikeouts across innings pitched. On June 25, Sanabia was released by the Toros.
On July 23, 2025, Sanabia signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In three starts for the Revolution, he struggled to an 0-1 record and 6.75 ERA with nine strikeouts across 12 innings of work. Sanabia was released by York on August 4.