CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #336
CTBC Brothers News: Angel Sánchez
On July 16, the CTBC Brothers announced the signing of 34-year-old Dominican right-hander Angel Sánchez. According to the team, Sánchez is set to arrive in Taiwan in the next few days.
“We are happy to be able to sign Angel Sánchez, and we believe his previous KBO and NPB experiences will help him adjust to playing in Taiwan,” said the Brothers’ general manager.
Angel Sánchez started his professional career in 2011 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organisation. After a few years in the minor leagues, he made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he registered an 8.76 ERA over 12.1 innings. At the end of the season, Sánchez was let go by the Pirates.
After leaving the MLB system, Angel Sánchez wound up in Korea playing for the SK Wyverns of the KBO. Between 2018 and 2019, he compiled an outstanding 3.68 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 310.1 innings. Adding a little context, the KBO league average ERA for 2018 and 2019 were 5.17 and 4.17. Angel Sánchez posted 4.89 and 2.62, respectively.
With his stellar KBO numbers, as always, Japan came knocking during the off-season. From 2020 to 2021, Angel Sánchez was active in the NPB pitching for the Yomiuri Giants. During his two NPB seasons, he posted a 3.81 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 160.2 innings.
In 2023, Angel Sánchez returned to the MLB system and signed a minor league deal with the Padres. He spent most of that season in Triple-A, posting a 6.66 ERA over 52.2 innings. Sánchez started his 2024 season in the Mexican League, where he recorded a 2.35 ERA over 38.1 innings. This eventually landed him a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in May 2024.
Prior to his signing with the CTBC Brothers, Angel Sánchez was active in Triple-A. In 26.2 innings, he posted a 2.36 ERA and 1.28 WHIP (Triple-A league average ERA is 4.90). According to the stats on Baseball Savant, Angel Sánchez’s fastball average velocity this year was 92.7 mph, maxing out at 95 mph.
KBO Teams Eyeing Eric Stout?
When asked by the media why the Brothers need so many foreign players, the CTBC Brothers’ general manager revealed that it is because KBO teams are apparently targeting Eric Stout, and the team have some injury concerns with Kirk McCarty.
As of today, the CTBC Brothers currently have Shawn Morimando, José De Paula, Kirk McCarty, Daniel Mengden, Eric Stout and Angel Sánchez as their foreign players for the 2024 CPBL season. It is worth noting that Shawn Morimando is currently on a rehab assignment after his elbow surgery.
New Member of Pro-Ball Grand Slam Club
With his signing with the CTBC Brothers, Angel Sánchez will become the 26th player to join the “Pro-Ball Grand Slam Club,” comprising players with experience playing in MLB, NPB, KBO, and CPBL.
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a tracker to monitor all foreign player signings for the 2024 CPBL season.