Alejandro “Alex” Sanabia (born September 8, 1988) is a right-handed

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

for the

Gastonia Honey Hunters The Gastonia Honey Hunters are a professional baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina. They play in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball, at CaroMont Health Park i ...

of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...

. He has played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the Florida/Miami Marlins.

Career

Florida/Miami Marlins

Prior to playing professionally, Sanabia attended

Castle Park High School Castle Park High School, established in 1962, is a high school in Chula Vista, California. It offers Advanced Placement classes. Along with Bonita Vista High School, it is one of only two schools in the Sweetwater Union School District that of ...

Chula Vista, California Chula Vista (; ) is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the Largest cities in Southern California, seventh largest city in Southern California, the List of largest California cities by population, fifteenth largest city ...

. He was drafted by the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

in the 32nd round of the 2006 amateur draft and began his professional career that season, playing for the

GCL Marlins The Florida Complex League Marlins are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Miami Marlins, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Marlins. The team plays ...

. With them, he went 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He pitched for the

Jamestown Jammers The Jamestown Jammers were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, New York from 1994 until 2014. The team was the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the New York–Penn League. The team playe ...

in 2007, going 2-6 with a 5.13 ERA in 15 starts. In 2008 with the

Greensboro Grasshoppers The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greensboro, North Carolina. They are members of the South Atlantic League and are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at First National ...

, he went 5-5 with a 4.93 ERA in 19 starts. With the

Jupiter Hammerheads The Jupiter Hammerheads are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in the town of Jupiter, Florida, Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home game ...

in 2009, Sanabia went 9-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 19 games (18 starts). He began the 2010 season with the

Jacksonville Suns The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Jacksonville, Florida, and are named for shrimp caught in the area. The team pla ...

, going 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 14 starts prior to his call up. He made his major league debut on June 24, 2010, pitching 3.1 innings in relief and posting an ERA of 5.40 against the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

. He appeared in 15 games for the Marlins that year, making 12 starts, going 5-3 with a 3.73 ERA. In 2011, he went 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA in three games (two starts). In the minor leagues, he went 0-5 with a 5.75 ERA. He began 2012 with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. He finished the 2012 season with the Zephyrs going 6-7 with a 4.06 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, in 88.2 innings pitched, with 24 walks, 63 strikeouts in 17 games started. On April 5, 2013 he made his first start since 2011, pitching 6 shutout innings against the Mets and picking up the win. On May 20 in a start against the Phillies, Sanabia gained infamy for spitting on the baseball and proceeding to throw it, something he claimed he didn't know was illegal. He got the win in that start, giving up 1 run in 6.1 innings. His next start, against the White Sox, was limited to 4 innings due to groin injury, and he was placed on the disabled list, and his season was ended.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Sanabia was claimed off waivers by the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...

on October 4, 2013. On April 16, 2014, Sanabia was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. On May 5, 2014, Sanabia was released by the Diamondbacks.

Second Stint with Marlins

Sanabia returned to the Marlins on a minor league contract on May 8, 2014. His 2014 minor league stats with both teams were a combined 7-5 record, a 4.70 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched.

Los Angeles Angels

On November 24, 2014, Sanabia signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

organization. He spent the season with the Triple-A

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. They are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and play their home games at Smith's Ballpark. The ballpark op ...

and elected free agency on November 6, 2015.

Toros de Tijuana

On March 7, 2016, Sanabia signed with the

Toros de Tijuana The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron. Team history Original Attempt The fran ...

of the

Mexican Baseball League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

Chicago Cubs

On May 9, 2016, Sanabia had his contract purchased by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

and was assigned to the Triple-A

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. The ...

. On June 13, 2016, the Cubs organization released Sanabia after he posted a 6.34 ERA in Iowa.

Toros de Tijuana (second stint)

On June 16, 2016, Sanabia signed with the

of the

. Sanabia pitched to a 3.86 ERA with a 3-1 record in 11 games for the Toros in 2017. Sanabia began the 2018 season on the disabled list.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos

On July 27, 2018, Sanabia was traded to the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (''Owls of the Two Laredos''), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (''Owls of Nuevo Laredo''), are a Minor League Baseball team based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas in the Mexican Leagu ...

to complete a deal that saw the Tecolotes acquire

Sergio Mitre Sergio Armando Mitre (born February 16, 1981) is a Mexican-American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and New York Yankees. In 2022, he was ...

Rieleros de Aguascalientes/Bravos de León

On January 9, 2019, Sanabia was traded to the

Rieleros de Aguascalientes The Rieleros de Aguascalientes (English: Aguascalientes Railroaders) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Aguascalientes, Mexico. History Baseball arrived in Aguascalientes in hand with the railroad at the beginning o ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. He was loaned to the

Bravos de León The Bravos de León (English: León Braves) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. History Cachorros de León (1979–80) Mexican League baseball in León began in 1979 when the Alijador ...

on July 10, 2019, for the remainder of the 2019 season. He was returned to the Rieleros following the 2019 season. Between the two clubs, Sanabia pitched to a 7.37 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched across 22 games. He was released on March 8, 2020.

York Revolution

On March 9, 2021, Sanabia signed with the

York Revolution The York Revolution is an American professional minor-league baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league, independent "partner lea ...

of the

. In 6 games with York, Sanabia logged a 3-0 record and 2.43 ERA.

New York Mets

On June 29, 2021, Sanabia’s contract was purchased by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

organization. Sanabia pitched to a 4.34 ERA in 12 appearances split between the Triple-A

Syracuse Mets The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium, which open ...

and Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are an American Minor League Baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Rumble Ponies play in Mira ...

. On November 7, Sanabia elected free agency.

York Revolution (second stint)

On February 22, 2022, Sanabia re-signed with the

of the

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On August 16, 2022, Sanabia was traded to the

of the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanabia, Alex 1988 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Baseball players from San Diego Bravos de León players Charros de Jalisco players Florida Marlins players Greensboro Grasshoppers players Gulf Coast Marlins players Jacksonville Suns players Jamestown Jammers players Jupiter Hammerheads players Major League Baseball pitchers Mexican League baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players Navegantes del Magallanes players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela New Orleans Zephyrs players Reno Aces players Rieleros de Aguascalientes players Salt Lake Bees players Sportspeople from Chula Vista, California Surprise Saguaros players Syracuse Mets players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players Toros de Tijuana players York Revolution players