Phillies’ Cristopher Sanchez took a massive leap in 2024—Now he’s working on ‘tweaking’ his pitch arsenal

The NL East isn’t getting any easier. The Mets just handed Juan Soto a historic deal, and the Braves are gearing up for a revenge tour after injuries derailed them last season. The Phillies won 95 games and their first division title in 13 years in 2024, but repeating won’t be easy.

One reason the Phillies were so dominant? Their rotation was elite.

Philadelphia’s starting staff ranked third in MLB in fWAR (16.0, per FanGraphs), and one of the biggest surprises of the year was Cristopher Sanchez. After starting 2024 as the No. 5 guy in the rotation, Sanchez broke out in a big way, earning an All-Star nod and finishing 10th in NL Cy Young voting.

But he’s not done yet. Now, he’s working on a new weapon—or two—for 2025.

Cristopher Sanchez is Tweaking His Arsenal—But He’s Keeping It a Secret

Sánchez, 28, isn’t satisfied with just being good—he wants to be even better. After cruising through the first half of 2024, his numbers took a slight dip in the second half (3.79 ERA vs. 3.32 ERA overall). So, what’s his solution? More adjustments.

“You have to keep adjusting,” Sánchez said through a team interpreter. “I am working on a few new things. I won’t say what those are, but I’m working.”

That sounds like a guy who knows he can still improve.

According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Sanchez played around with a cutter last spring, and it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s one of the pitches he’s refining now.

Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham has been a big proponent of pitchers having multiple fastballs, and a cutter would give Sánchez a much-needed weapon against right-handed hitters, who hit .261 against him last season.

Currently, Cristopher Sanchez operates with a three-pitch mix:

• Sinker (his primary weapon)
• Changeup (great against righties)
• Slider (sharp, but still developing)

A cutter could give him another way to keep hitters off balance, especially righties who sit on his sinker.

From No. 5 Starter to a Key Piece in the Rotation

The Phillies bet big on Sánchez last year, locking him into a four-year, $22.5 million extension in June with two club options. That gamble paid off fast—he made 31 starts, kept the ball in the park (0.5 HR/9), and helped anchor one of the best rotations in baseball.

Now, with Jesús Luzardo joining Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Ranger Suarez, Sanchez might not be the fifth guy anymore—he could be top three.

High Hopes for Cristopher Sanchez in 2025:

Cristopher Sanchez already exceeded expectations in his first full year as a starter. Now, with potential new weapons in his arsenal and a loaded rotation backing him up, he has a chance to take another major leap.

The NL is stacked. The Braves and Mets are coming for the division. But the Phillies have the arms—and Sánchez might be the next one to take a star turn.

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