The Toronto Blue Jays once placed the future of their pitching staff in the right arm of Barstow, California, native Aaron Sanchez, making him a first-round draft pick out of Barstow High School in 2010. But after a highly promising start, his career was derailed by injuries.
Now Sanchez is on his way back, signing a contract with the Kansas City Royals that could earn him $1.35 million, according to a report by MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided.
But the Blue Jays could have kept him. After bouncing around with three different organizations from 2021 to 2023, Sanchez landed with the Buffalo Bisons, Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, in 2024. But the Bisons released him in August of that year.
Sanchez Was Fast-Rising Blue Jays Star
Sanchez was one of three first-rounders taken by the Blue Jays that year, all right-handed pitchers. Their top pick, Deck McGuire, appeared in only 27 big league games over four seasons with three different teams. Their last one, Asher Wojciechowski, met a similar fate, pitching just 58 games with four teams in five years.
In between, the Blue Jays selected Noah Syndergaard, who went on to earn an All-Star selection and pitch in two World Series, for the New York Mets in 2015 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. But he never threw a pitch for the Blue Jays.
And then there was Sanchez, who by 2013 rose to become the Blue Jays No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He debuted the following year, throwing 33 innings with an eye-catching 1.09 ERA. But he really hit his stride in 2016. That year, he led the American League in ERA at 3.00, won 15 games against just two losses, made the AL All-Star team and finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting.
And then it all fell apart.
Winter League Showcase Goes Well
Starting in 2017, Sanchez suffered a string of health issues. According to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors, “in addition to recurring blister troubles on his pitching hand, Sanchez has been plagued by a lat strain, a biceps strain and a torn capsule in his right shoulder.”
After he was cut from Torontoâs Triple-A squad, Sanchez failed to find another MLB club that would pick him up. Instead, he joined Toros del Este (Bulls of the East) in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, with the hope of showcasing himself for Major League clubs.
The plan worked out. In 46 1/3 innings over eight starts for Toros, Sanchez posted a 1.55 ERA, striking out 34 while allowing just nine walks.
Interest From Multiple Teams
“Multiple teams expressed interest in Sanchez after a strong showing with the Toros del Este where he won the Dominican Winter Leagueâs Pitcher of the Year award after sitting out last season,” Murray wrote. “He was determined to get back to the majors, went to the Dominican Republic to tweak different things and showcase himself to get back to the majors. And now Sanchez has the opportunity to do just that with the Royals.”
Sanchez signed a minor league contract with the Royals, but the deal includes a nonroster invitation to Kansas Cityâs spring training camp. According to Murray’s reporting, the Scott Boras client will earn $1.35 million if he makes the big league team, with various incentives offering him the chance to increase his income if he sticks with the Royals.
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