Aaron Jacob Sanchez...Twitter: @A\_Sanch18...Instagram: @a\_sanch18...the first MLB player born in Barstow, CA...after his debut and successful first season, Barstow City Council declared Oct. 20, 2014, to be “Aaron Sanchez Day”...Aaron’s stepfather, Mike Shipley, was drafted in the fourth round of the 1976 MLB draft by the Angels...married to wife, Jessica, and together they have a son, Ace.
2022
Signed with Washington as Minor League free agent March 14, with spring training invite....Began season with Triple-A Rochester and made three starts before having contract selected by Nationals April 23....Made seven starts for the Nationals from April 23-May 28, going 3-3, 8.33 ERA (31.1 IP, 29 ER) with eight walks and 16 strikeouts and was designated for release or assignment May 28....Refused Minor League assignment with Washington and became free agent...signed minor league contract with Minnesota on June 6 and reported to Triple-A St. Paul....Made eight starts for the Saints from June 8-July 27, going 3-1, 4.26 ERA (38.0 IP, 18 ER) with 11 walks and 26 strikeouts....Had contract selected by Minnesota Aug.1....Filled temporary rotation spot before the Twins acquired right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle in a trade; made first start with Twins on Aug.1 vs. Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with a season-high eight strikeouts...Designated for release or assignment next day and accepted assignment to St. Paul....Made two more starts with Saints in mid-Aug. and had contract selected again on Aug. 23 (Mahle - IL)....Finished season with Minnesota, primarily in long-relief role, going 0-1, 4.94 ERA (23.2 IP, 13 ER) with five walks and 17 strikeouts in seven games (2 starts)....Re-signed with Minnesota as minor league free agent with invite to Spring Training Jan. 23, 2023.
2021
Joined San Francisco near the start of Spring Training...Started six Major League games before being placed on the Injured List on May 8...Made appearances with Triple-A Sacramento and Low-A San Jose before rejoining the Giants on July 29...Pitched in three more games, with two of those appearances coming out of the bullpen...Final start of the season came on August 7 at Milwaukee...Pitched fewest Major League innings since appearing in eight games with Toronto in 2018... 2021 Pitch Mix: Curveball (30.6%) Sinker (30.3%) Changeup (20%) 4-Seam Fastball (19.2%).
2020
Missed all of the 2020 season recovering from a shoulder injury to repair a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder that he suffered in September of 2019.
2017
Made four separate stints on the disabled list ... Pitched in a career-low eight games while registering career highs in ERA (4.25), opp. avg. (.288) and WHIP (1.72) ... Allowed 42 hits over 36.0 innings, 13 of which went for extra bases (7-2B, 6-HR) ... On April 14 vs. BAL, took his first loss against the O's since May 13, 2015 (now a career 5-3 vs. BAL) ... Placed on the DL on April 16 with a blister on his right middle finger ... Removed from the DL on April 30 and threw just one inning vs. TB...Returned to the DL the following day with a split fingernail on his right middle finger ... Made two starts after that second DL stint (0-0, 3 ER/11.0 IP) before being placed on the DL for a third time with a laceration on his right middle finger on May 20 ... Made two rehab starts in the minors, one with Dunedin (3.2 IP) and one with Buffalo (4.1 IP) ... Returned to the rotation on July 7 vs. HOU...Allowed a career-high eight runs (five earned) over 1.2 innings and failed to record a strikeout for the 1st time in his career as a starter...Took a loss in July for the 1st time in his career (was 6-0) ... Allowed just one run (unearned) over 6.0 innings on July 14 at DET, picking up his only win of 2017...Threw 101 pitches, surpassing the century mark for just the 2nd time all season (101 pitches on Apr. 8 at TB) ... Made his final start on July 19 at BOS and issued a season-high five walks over four innings (6H, 3ER, 2K) ... Landed on the DL for a fourth time on July 22 with a right middle finger blister ... In September, was diagnosed with a pulley ligament issue in his right middle finger.
2016
Posted a 3.00 ERA, the lowest mark in the AL in 2016, becoming the 5th different pitcher in franchise history to win an ERA title... The last pitcher to lead his league in ERA at Sanchez's age or younger (24 years, 93 days at the end of the 2016 regular season) was Clayton Kershaw, who was 23 years, 193 days at the end of the 2011 regular season...The last AL pitcher was Roger Clemens, who was 24 years, 62days old at the end of the 1986 regular season...His .882 winning percentage was the highest in all of baseball this season...It also ranks as the best winning percentage by a TOR starter in club history...Teammate J.A. Happ is 2nd with a .833 mark, Guzman 3rd at .824 (14-3 in '93) and Morris is 4th at .778 (21-6 in '93)...His .900 win pct. in the first half was the highest by a Blue Jays starter prior to the All-Star break in club history (min. 15 GS)...Selected by AL All-Star Manager, Ned Yost, to replace Craig Kimbrel (15-day DL) of the Red Sox on the AL All-Star Roster...Worked the 4th inning as he allowed one run on two hits... Became the 3rd pitcher in Jays history to win at least 14 of his first 16 decisions in a season...David Wells started 14-2 in the 2000 season, and Roy Halladay also won 14 of his first 16 decisions in his Cy Young-winning 2003 season...Finished the season 1st in the AL in ERA (3.00), opponents' OPS (.625), SLG % (.335) and 4th in opposition average (.224)... Allowed just a .219 opposition average with RISP this season, 9th lowest in the American League...Posted a groundball percentage of 54.4%, 3rd best in AL...Facing RHH that mark jumped to 61.0% - highest in all of baseball... Went 8-0 vs. AL East rivals, posting a 2.66 ERA (26ER/88.0 IP) in 14 game starts...He is the only pitcher with at least 14 game starts to have a 1.000 winning percentage against the AL East...Had a career-high 10-game winning streak from April 29-July 25, before it was snapped Aug. 6 at KC...Was the longest active streak in the Majors at the time and one of seven double-digit winning streaks by a Blue Jays starter in franchise history, joining: Roy Halladay (15, 2003), Roger Clemens (15, 1998 & 11, 1997), Dennis Lamp (11, 1985), Juan Guzman (10, 1991) and J.A. Happ (11 in 2016)...Allowed one earned run or less in 15 of his 30 starts this season...Those 15 starts with one earned run or less were tied for the most in the AL with teammate J.A. Happ...In 21 of his starts this year limited the opposition to two earned runs or fewer...Had a franchise-tying streak of eight consecutive starts in which he held opponents to 2-ER or less from June 17-July 31...Was just the third pitcher in club history to accomplish the feat, joining Roger Clemens (1997) & Dave Stieb (1985)...Opp. hit just .218 (19-for-87) against him on the first pitch of at-bats this year - the highest of 144 qualified pitchers...Despite allowing just three hits (2HR) over 5.2 innings, gave up six earned runs to Texas in his first career postseason start in the LDS...Walked four in the contest, marking just the 5th time in 2016 to walk at least four batters. The six runs allowed in G3 of the ALDS snapped a 7.1 scoreless innings streak in the postseason to begin his career...His .128 opposition average in the playoffs ranked as 2nd lowest behind Kenley Jensen (.125) of the Dodgers (min. 40 PA)...Was optioned to Dunedin following his August 20 start at CLE in an effort to limit his innings...Recalled Aug. 31...Tossed 8.0 innings for the third time in 2016 July 4 vs. KC…No other pitcher in the Majors as young as he (24.004) had recorded at least 8.0 IP in three different starts at the time...In his start June 29 at COL, allowed just one run over 8.0 IP...Became the fifth AL pitcher to throw at least 8.0 innings, while giving up one run or fewer in a game at Coors Field...Became the 1st TOR pitcher in club history to win a decision when surrendering 4-HR, June 12 vs. BAL…That was the most HR given up by a TOR pitcher since R.A. Dickey (June 27, 2014 vs. CWS)...Took a 1-hit shutout into the 9th on June 7 at DET...Allowed hits to the first two batters before being removed in a game the club would lose 3-2 in extra innings...Fanned a career-high 12, becoming the first Jays starter to post 10+...On Sept. 27 vs. BAL, fanned 10 batters and allowed just one run over six innings to earn the win for the Jays over the Orioles, 5-1...Improved to 14-2, becoming the third pitcher in Jays history to win at least 14 of his first 16 decisions in a season...David Wells started 14-2 in the 2000 season, and Roy Halladay also won 14 of his first 16 decisions in his Cy Young-winning 2003 season...Allowed three home runs over two starts (10.2 IP) from Sept. 6-11 after surrendering just one over his previous 50.0 IP prior to that...Won seven consecutive decisions from April 29-June 29, the most by any Jays starter 23 years of age or younger (turned 24 July 1)...Garvin, Hentgen, Litsch & Cecil all had five game streaks under 24 years of age...Had gone at least six innings and allowed exactly one earned run in each of his first three starts in 2016…Only one other Blue Jays pitcher has thrown six or more innings while allowing one earned run or fewer in each of his first three starts of a season (Jeff Musselman in 1988)...In his first start of the season on April 5 at TB, had a then career-high eight strikeouts which matched Roy Halladay in 2002 for the most by a Blue Jay without a walk in his first start of a season in club history.
2015
Started the season in the Blue Jays rotation…Went on the disabled list June 15 with a right lat strain…Following his return in July was moved to the bullpen...In his 11 starts went 5-4 with a 3.55 ERA...Walked 37 in 66 IP for a 5.1 BB/9 total, which was highest in MLB at time of his final start...After moving to the bullpen posted a 2.39 ERA (7ER/26.1 IP) while holding the opposition to a .178 average (16-90)...Allowed 5-ER over his final nine games (7.0 IP) - more than he had given up over his previous 20 relief outings (2ER/18.2IP)… Over those 7.0 IP he walked four batters with an opposition average of .310 (9-29)...Posted a 2.39 BB/9 as a reliever after having a 5.1 BB/9 as a starter...Suffered his 5th loss of the season (1st as a reliever) after surrendering a 3R-HR in the 8th on August 14 vs. NYY…Was the first HR he had allowed in relief since Aug. 5, 2014 vs. BAL...Was ejected for the first time in his career after hitting A. Escobar in the 8th inning on August 2 vs. KC...Was the 1st Toronto starter in 2015 to not allow a run in an outing that lasted longer than 3.0 IP on May 8 vs. BOS... Was the 1st time a TOR starter had gone at least 7.0 scoreless innings while allowing two hits or less since Drew Hutchison on Aug. 30, 2014 vs. NYY (7.0, 1H)…Was the 1st time a TOR starter tossed at least 7.0 scoreless IP while recording more walks (5) than SO (3) in a start since May 6, 2010 at CWS (Dana Eveland - 7.0 IP, 4BB, 3K)…In fact, this was just the 2nd time it has happened for TOR over the last 15 seasons (2001-2015)...Tossed a career-high 8.0 innings June 5 vs. HOU allowing just one earned run…Did not issue a walk for the first time in his career as a starter...April 27 at BOS went 5.2 innings in a 6-5 loss...Walked his first two batters, however settled in and finished with a career best seven strikeouts, turning over a 5-4 lead to the bullpen...Also marked the first time to surpass 100 pitches (107)... Earned his 1st win of the season and 1st victory as a starter, April 22 vs. BAL…The win snapped a 4-GM losing streak dating back to last season...Issued seven free passes, the first time since Sept. 8, 1995 that a TOR starter walked 7+ and won the game (J. Ware, Sept. 8/95 - 8BB). Earned his first postseason victory in game five vs. TEX in the ALDS, becoming the youngest pitcher in franchise history to record a playoff win...Became the third reliever in club history to not allow a run in the playoffs (minimum 6.0 IP), joining Jim Acker (1985) and Dennis Lamp (1985)...His nine appearances through the ALDS and ALCS were most among all ML pitchers through the first two rounds of the 2015 playoffs...Did not allow a run over his final 11.2 innings pitched of the season (regular & postseason), dating back to September 26 vs. TB...Was the first rookie reliever to toss at least 7.1 innings in the playoffs without allowing an earned run in their postseason debut since Boston's Brandon Workman in 2013…Is one of 10 rookie relievers to post a 0.00 ERA in their postseason debut in MLB history (minimum 6.0 IP)...Is the only Blue Jays rookie reliever in club history to record an ERA of 0.00 in the playoffs.
2014
Did not allow an earned run over his final 14.0 innings pitched of the season… In those 12 outings surrendered only five hits, holding opponents to a .109 batting average… In his last 23.1 innings, posted a 0.38 ERA allowing only one earned run over that stretch...Earned three saves (three opportunities) this season… Became the 4th youngest Blue Jay in club history to record a save after collecting his first August 30 vs. NYY (2.0 IP, 0R, 0H, 3K)...Suffered his first career loss August 25 vs. BOS (1ER/1.0IP)...Made his Major League debut July 23 vs. BOS, tossing 2.0 innings while recording two strikeouts...Threw a career-high 3.0 innings on August 10 vs. DET… Gave up just one hit and fanned three in the outing...Tossed 34.1 innings for Buffalo after being promoted following his June 8 start… While with the Bisons posted a 4.19 ERA with 27 strikeouts…When pitching at Coca-Cola Field, recorded a 2.93 ERA in 15.1 innings with 17 strikeouts and a .222 opposition average...Began his season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA)… Made 14 starts, tossing 66.0 innings while posting a 3.82 ERA...He allowed three earned runs or less in all but one start (May 29 at BIN, 6-ER, 6.0-IP)… While with New Hampshire held opponents to a .222 batting average and struck out 57 batters...In the minors this season, he recorded 100.1 innings (22 games, 20 game starts) with a 3.95 ERA, .243 opposition average and 84 strikeouts.
