Philly Leader

Cristopher Sánchez, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been working on new techniques during the offseason. "I am working on a few new things," he stated through an interpreter at Citizens Bank Park. While he did not disclose specifics, he confirmed the development of a new pitch.

The Phillies' pitchers and catchers are set to start their training in Clearwater, Florida, on February 12. This provides ample time for Sánchez to refine his skills before the season's Opening Day. Last year marked Sánchez's first full season in Major League Baseball, where he achieved an 11-9 record with a 3.32 ERA over 31 starts. His performance earned him a spot on the National League All-Star team and NL Pitcher of the Month honors in June.

Sánchez's dedication is reminiscent of fellow pitcher Zack Wheeler, who has also introduced new pitches in recent seasons. Sánchez expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season and his desire to win a World Series with one of baseball's top rotations.

"Yeah, just being honest, this is one of the best rotations, if not the best," Sánchez commented regarding his team's pitching staff. FanGraphs projects that only the Los Angeles Dodgers have a better rotation than the Phillies for 2025.

The Dodgers' rotation includes notable names such as Blake Snell and Shohei Ohtani, while Philadelphia relies on talents like Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter alongside Sánchez.

Durability will be key for any team aiming for success this season. Last year, Sánchez pitched a career-high number of innings which contributed significantly to his team's efforts.

"Every time, to get better, you have to keep adjusting," said Sánchez about his goals which include maintaining health throughout the season and helping his team reach its ultimate goal: winning championships.