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.
Sánchez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent on July 15, 2013, for a $65,000 signing bonus. He spent the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons with the DSL Rays. Sánchez went 1âÂÂ3 with a 7.77 ERA over 22 innings in 2014, 2âÂÂ1 with a 3.54 ERA over innings in 2015, and 5âÂÂ3 with a 3.06 ERA over innings in 2016. He spent the 2017 season with the Princeton Rays, going 1âÂÂ6 with a 10.01 ERA over innings. Sánchez split the 2018 season between Princeton and the Hudson Valley Renegades, going a combined 4âÂÂ2 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 4âÂÂ1 with a 2.26 ERA over innings.
Sánchez was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Curtis Mead on November 20, 2019. Sánchez was added to the Philliesâ 40-man roster after being acquired. 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.
On April 19, 2021, Sánchez was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. However, he was optioned down to the minors the next day without pitching in the majors. On May 3, Sánchez was recalled to the active roster but was again optioned down the next day without playing. 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. He made his major league debut that afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in the final innings of a 12âÂÂ6 win against the Washington Nationals. He returned to the minors after that game, pitching six more times in the majors in 2021. Sánchez also split 2022 between Philadelphia and Triple-A.
In June 2023, Sánchez became a regular part of the Phillies' rotation after being called up from the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. In 19 games (18 starts), Sánchez compiled a 3âÂÂ5 record and 3.44 ERA with 96 strikeouts across innings pitched for Philadelphia. He made his postseason debut later in the season on October 20 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He only lasted innings in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
On June 22, 2024, Sánchez and the Phillies agreed to a four-year, $22.5 million contract extension. On June 28, he threw his first career complete game shutout, allowing only three hits in a 2âÂÂ0 win over the Miami Marlins. 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. He was named to the MLB All-Star Game. In 31 games (31 starts) during the 2024 season, Sánchez compiled a 11âÂÂ9 record and 3.32 ERA with 153 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Despite pitching well, Sánchez was not named to the 2025 All-Star Game, though the team gave him his $50,000 All-Star bonus. 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. In 32 games (32 starts) during the 2025 season, Sánchez compiled a 13âÂÂ5 record and 2.50 ERA with 212 strikeouts across 202 innings pitched. Sánchez placed second in NL Cy Young Award voting behind Paul Skenes. In Game 1 of the NL Division Series, Sánchez struck out 8 in innings, but Philadelphia lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On March 22, 2026, Sánchez and the Phillies agreed to a six-year, $107 million contract extension.
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. 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 innings. He then earned a win in the quarterfinals against South Korea, striking out 8 in five innings in a 10âÂÂ0 win.