Mario Sanchez (born October 31, 1994) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President Lions, and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers.
On July 26, 2012, Sanchez signed with the Washington Nationals as a free agent, at the age of 17. He spent his first two professional seasons with the rookieâÂÂlevel Dominican Summer League Nationals, accumulating a 3.00 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 26 total games.
In 2014, Sanchez pitched in 18 games for the LowâÂÂA Auburn Doubledays, recording a 4.11 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 3 saves across 35 innings of work. He spent the 2015 season with the SingleâÂÂA Hagerstown Suns, pitching to a 7âÂÂ5 record and 4.86 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 2 saves in innings pitched. In 2016, Sanchez made 32 appearances for the HighâÂÂA Potomac Nationals, registering a 5âÂÂ0 record and 3.46 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 78 innings of work.
On December 12, 2016, the Nationals traded Sanchez to the Philadelphia Phillies as the player to be named later in their earlier trade for Jimmy Cordero on November 22. In 2017, he made 19 appearances for the DoubleâÂÂA Reading Fightin Phils, working to a 2.88 ERA with 32 strikeouts across innings pitched. On July 1, 2017, Sanchez underwent Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. He made only seven appearances for the rookieâÂÂlevel Gulf Coast League Phillies the following season as he rehabilitated from surgery. Sanchez elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.
On April 2, 2019, Sanchez signed a minor league contract to return to the Washington Nationals organization. He split the season between the DoubleâÂÂA Harrisburg Senators and TripleâÂÂA Fresno Grizzlies. In 27 combined games (22 starts), he accumulated a 10âÂÂ7 record and 3.82 ERA with 118 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Sanchez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent majority of the 2021 season with DoubleâÂÂA Harrisburg, also appearing in two games for the TripleâÂÂA Rochester Red Wings. In 22 games (18 starts) for Harrisburg, he posted a 4âÂÂ8 record and 3.98 ERA with 107 strikeouts across innings of work. Sanchez elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.
On January 4, 2022, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. In 28 games for the TripleâÂÂA St. Paul Saints, he registered a 6âÂÂ4 record and 4.24 ERA with 70 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sanchez elected free agency following the season on November 10.
On January 31, 2023, Sanchez signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He helped the Lions win the half-season championship as he led the CPBL with a 1.44 earned run average and was named the league's most valuable player for June. In 10 games (9 starts), he pitched to an 8âÂÂ1 record and 1.44 ERA with 42 strikeouts in innings.
On July 4, 2023, Sanchez's contract was purchased for $280,000 by the Kia Tigers of the KBO League. In 12 games (11 starts) for Kia, he recorded a 5.94 ERA with 59 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sanchez became a free agent following the 2023 season.
On December 27, 2023, Sanchez signed a contract to return to the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He made 26 starts for the Lions in 2024, compiling a 14-5 record and 2.49 ERA with 167 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sanchez became a free agent following the season.
On March 3, 2025, Sanchez signed a two-year, $1 million contract with the CTBC Brothers of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He suffered a right shoulder injury on April 30, which later necessitated a platelet-rich plasma injection. Sanchez was released by the Brothers on June 20, having posted a 1-1 record and 1.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts over his four starts.