| Jake Sanchez | |
| Team: | Diablos Rojos del México |
| Number: | 48 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 19 August 1989 |
| Birth Place: | Brawley, California, U.S. |
| Highlights: | Mexican Pacific League records
|
Jacob Sanchez (born August 19, 1989) is a Mexican-American professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has also played for the Mexico national baseball team.
Sanchez attended Brawley Union High School in Brawley, California, Imperial Valley College,[1] and Iowa Wesleyan University. He was not drafted by a Major League Baseball organization out of college in 2012. He pitched in independent league baseball, playing in the Liga Norte de México and for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League.
On June 10, 2013, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[2] [3] Sanchez pitched for the Great Falls Voyagers of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and was named the league's pitcher of the year.[4] In 2014, Sanchez began the season with the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League.[5]
On June 14, 2014, the Oakland Athletics traded Michael Taylor for Sanchez,[6] and they assigned him to the Stockton Ports of the High-A California League. In 2015, he pitched for the Midland RockHounds of the Double-A Texas League.[7] He pitched for the Águilas de Mexicali of the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico in 2016–17,[8] also pitching for them in the 2017 Caribbean Series.[9] Sanchez was released by the Athletics organization on August 2, 2018.
On August 6, 2018, Sanchez signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He appeared in 13 games for Tijuana to close out the year, registering a 1–1 record and 4.61 ERA with 8 strikeouts in innings pitched. In 2019, he pitched in 36 games for Tijuana, logging a 3–3 record and 4.50 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 13 saves in 38 innings of work.
Sanchez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] In 2021, Sanchez made 27 appearances for the Toros, working to a 1–1 record and 2.93 ERA with 31 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On September 27, 2021, Sanchez, along with IF Daniel Castro and C Victor Ortega, were traded to the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.[11] He made 45 appearances for Monterrey in 2022, but struggled to a 7–4 record and 6.05 ERA with 43 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On February 3, 2023, Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.[12] In 44 relief outings for the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas, he recorded a 5.68 ERA with 62 strikeouts across 57 innings pitched. Sanchez elected free agency following the season on November 6.[13]
On February 17, 2024, Sanchez signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[14] In 42 appearances out of the bullpen for the Diablos, he compiled a 5–1 record and 2.38 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 18 saves across innings pitched. With the team, Sanchez won the Serie del Rey.[15]
Sanchez played for the Mexican national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, 2019 exhibition games against Japan,[16] and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
On February 17, 2024, Sanchez signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[17]
Sanchez holds dual American and Mexican citizenship.[18]