Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez (41) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Former Toronto Blue Jays All-Star Pitcher Aaron Sanchez Attempting MLB Comeback

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Sam Connon | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 12:21 PM ET

Right-handed pitcher Aaron Sanchez is staging an MLB comeback attempt, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Wednesday morning.

Sanchez, who last pitched in the majors in 2022, has switched over to a new agency in Smooth Baseball. He suited up for the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo in 2024, but has yet to join an organization in 2025.

The 33-year-old free agent pitched for the Blue Jays from 2014 to 2019, reaching his peak in 2016. He went 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 161 strikeouts and 5.1 WAR that season, leading MLB in winning percentage while claiming the American League ERA crown, making his first and only All-Star appearance and finishing seventh in AL Cy Young voting.

Former All Star pitcher Aaron Sanchez, with a new sports agency (Smooth Baseball), is making a comeback after last pitching in the big leagues in 2022. He pitched last season for Triple-A Buffalo.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 16, 2025

Sanchez went 32-33 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.368 WHIP and 8.4 WAR across his time with the Blue Jays, who eventually traded him to the Houston Astros. The righty suffered a shoulder injury late in the 2019 campaign, though, knocking him out for all of 2020 as well.

Despite posting a 3.06 ERA in nine appearances with the San Francisco Giants in 2021, Sanchez could only get a minor league contract from the Washington Nationals the following offseason. He was called up for seven starts, only to get designated for assignment after posting a 8.33 ERA.

Sanchez tossed 28.2 innings with the Minnesota Twins to round out 2022, then opened 2023 stashed in their farm system. The Arizona Diamondbacks took a flier on the veteran later that year, but never called him up to the majors.

In 14 starts with Triple-A Buffalo last season, Sanchez went 3-6 with a 7.92 ERA and 1.679 WHIP.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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