Former Blue Jays star looking to make comeback to MLB

Many MLB players go through the ups and downs of life as a big leaguer. One day you're a representing your team at the All-Star game, the next, you're sitting at home in the offseason waiting for that phone to ring. Some will get lucky enough to get a phone call and attempt a comeback to the big leagues. In the case for former Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Aaron Sanchez, that is exactly what he intends to do after being absent from the majors for the past few seasons.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, Sanchez is aiming for an MLB comeback with the support of a new sports agency in Smooth Baseball. The 33-year-old right-hander last saw action in the major leagues back in 2022 when he played for the Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals.

Former Blue Jays star looking to make comeback to MLB

It has certainly been a tumultuous career for Sanchez ever since his quick rise to stardom during his time with the Blue Jays. Making his debut as a reliever with Toronto back in 2014, he would put on a show as he posted a sparkling 1.09 ERA, 0.70 WHIP while giving up just four earned runs in 33 total innings pitched. Sanchez would go on to be an integral part of the Jays pitching staff and even became a first-time All-Star in 2016.

More significantly, Sanchez was instrumental in the Jays’ two subsequent postseason runs, as both a reliever and a starter, he would help lead the team to the American League Championship Series in 2015 and 2016. He would post a perfect 2-0 record with a 3.32 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, along with 16 strikeouts in 19 total innings during those two playoff runs.

However, he would be most remembered for the bizarre sequence during the 7th inning of Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS against the Texas Rangers that ultimately led to one of the biggest winning moments in Jays history.

Sanchez’s effectiveness would ultimately wane following the 2016 season as he began to encounter recurring blister issues with his pitching hand. As a result, his tenure with Toronto would eventually end in 2019 when he became a part of the trade package along with Joe Biagini and Cal Stevenson that was sent to the Houston Astros at the deadline in exchange for outfielder Derek Fisher. Sanchez would finish with a 32-33 record, 3.96 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in his six seasons in a Jays uniform.

From there, he would spend time with the Astros, San Francisco Giants, Nationals, Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations, but has failed to maintain a big league gig in the process. Sanchez would eventually return to the Jays organization last season but spent his entire time with Triple-A Buffalo where he struggled to a 3-6 record with a 7.92 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 14 starts. As a result, he was ultimately released by the Jays at the beginning of August in 2024.

Now as a free agent, Sanchez will now focus on getting himself up to speed with hopes that a potential MLB franchise can give him another chance to pitch again in the majors. Hopefully, he will be able to help salvage what was once a bright and promising career.