From Venezuela to the American dream of MLB prominence, Anibal Sanchez made a noteworthy journey to success. Sanchez plays as a baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals, noting his 16th MLB season with the completion of the 2022 season.
Sanchez made his first-step toward a professional baseball career after the Red Sox signed him as an international free agent in 2001. But it was until 2006 that the player saw his MLB debut with the Marlins.
As of 2023, Anibal is a free agent following the end of his one-year deal with the Nationals. While at Washington Nationals in 2019, he won his first-ever World Series.
Along with his MLB success, Anibal Sanchez leads a happy married life with his second wife, Ana, and shares two kids together.
Previously, he was in a marital relationship with his highschool sweetheart but divorced after the death of their infant son at 3 months old.
Want to know more about Anibal Sanchez? Here we present you the details on the family, relationship & net worth of the MLB player.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anibal Alejandro Sanchez Jr. |
| Birth Date | February 27, 1984 |
| Birth Place | Maracay, Venezuela |
| Nick Name | Alejo |
| Nationality | Venezuelan-American |
| Ethnicity | Not Known |
| Age | 40 Years Old |
| Zodiac | Pisces |
| Height | 6 feet/ 1.83 m/ 183 cm |
| Weight | 93 kg/ 207 lbs |
| Education | U.E. San Pedro Alesandrino |
| Father’s Name | N/A |
| Mother’s Name | N/A |
| Siblings | One Brother (Carlos) |
| Bats | Right-handed |
| Throws | Right-handed |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
|
| Build | Athlete |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Ana Sanchez (m. 2011) |
| Children | Anabella Sanchez & Anibal Jr. |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Profession | Baseball player |
| League | MLB |
| Current Team | Washington Nationals |
| Active Since | 2006- Present |
| MLB Debut | June 25, 2006 |
| Net Worth | $40 million |
| Salary | $2 million |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram |
| Merch | Signed Card, Signed Baseball |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Anibal Sanchez’s Early Life & Family
Sanchez was born on February 27, 1984, in Maracay, Venezuela. His birth name is Aníbal Alejandro Sánchez Jr.
The MLB player often shares pictures of his parents on Instagram, but further detail on them is not out. He also has an elder brother named Carlos Sanchez (birthday on September 15).
Anibal’s parents were supportive of his passion for baseball & even enrolled him in baseball camps.
According to Anibal Sanchez’s Instagram post, his father’s birthday falls on July 1.
While in Venezuela, Sanchez attended U.E. San Pedro Alesandrino High School and excelled in baseball there.
In 2001, at the age of 17, he became an international free agent signing of MLB’s Boston Red Sox. But it was until five years later Anibal Sanchez earned his MLB debut.
In February 2017, the MLB player obtained his US citizenship.
MLB Career With Marlins, Tigers & Nationals
Until the mid-2000s, Anibal Sanchez played in minor league teams: Lowell Spinners, Wilmington, & Portland Sea Dogs.
At the end of the 2005 season, the Red Sox traded him along with Hanley Ramírez to Florida Marlins to acquire Josh Beckett, Guillermo Mota & Mike Lowell.
On June 25, 2006, Anibal made his MLB debut with the Marlins in a game against the NY Yankees. Then in a game against Arizona Diamonds on September 6, 2006, he pitched a no-hitter.
During his 7 years at Florida/Miami Marlins (2006- 2012), the MLB player averaged a 3.75 ERA from 794.1 innings pitched for 676 strikeouts & 2.2 strikeout-to-walkout ratios.
Then on July 23, 2012, he, along with his Marlins teammate Omar Infante was traded to Detriot Tigers in exchange for Jacob Turner, Rob Brantly, and Brian Flynn.
While playing for the Tigers (from 2012 to 2017), Anibal made his first-ever World Series appearance in 2012, joining future two-time World Series champ Justin Verlander. But they lost to San Francisco Giants.
His six MLB seasons with Detroit Tigers averaged a 4.43 ERA from 798.1 innings pitched while gaining 738 strikeouts & a 3.21 strikeout-to-walkout ratio.
Won 2019 World Series With Washington Nationals
After playing the 2018 season with Altanta Braves, he signed a two-year contract with Washington Nationals on December 27, 2018, for the 2019 & 2020 seasons.
In his first-season with the Nationals, Anibal Sanchez won the 2019 National League Championship Series against St. Louis Cardinals.
As a result, they advanced to the 2019 World Series, where they won against the AL champion Houston Astros with a 4-3 in a 7-game series.
At the Nationals, he joined rosters like Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Joe Ross, Juan Soto & Anthony Rendon, among others.
Following the 2020 season, leading National League with an ERA (of 39), he became a free agent.
Anibal Sanchez | What Is He Doing Now?
Throughout the 2021 season, Sanchez remained out of MLB after he reportedly failed to gain a contract.
On March 13, 2022, the Washington Nationals signed him in a minor league contract & bought that deal on April 4, naming him on the MLB roster.
On April 11, 2022, he was placed on a 10-day injured list with a cervical never impingement in his neck at the end of Spring Training camp.
After recovery, Anibal Sanchez made his MLB comeback in a series opener against Atlanta Braves on July 14, 2022, since September 26, 2020.
He concluded the 2022 MLB season with a 4.28 ERA & took 48 strikeouts in 69.1 innings.
Sanchez joins the list of Venezuelan-born MLB players with successful baseball careers: Félix Hernández, Francisco Cervelli, Miguel Montero, Asdrúbal Cabrera & Carlos González, among others.
Anibal Sanchez’s Married Life | Second Wife & Kids
The Venezuelan baseball player is a one-time divorcee. Currently, Sanchez lives with his second wife, Ana Marrero Sanchez, and they share two kids together.
When Anibal met Ana, he was playing with Florida Marlins.
As reported, the couple married on November 5, 2011, in Puerto Rico, after dating for a few years.
Following some months of his trade to the Detroit Tigers, Anibal & his wife Ana welcomed their first child, daughter Anabella, on October 2, 2012.
The pair became parents for the second time as they welcomed their son Anibal Jr. in 2018.
Sanchez always prioritizes his family before baseball and flies back to his home in Miami, Florida, on every day off when he is not pitching the next day.
On his Instagram & Twitter, Anibal often shares pictures of his family moments.
The MLB star’s wife, Ana Francheska, is also active on social media platforms like Instagram (@anafrancheska) & Twitter (@afsanchez19), where she mentions her husband & kids.
Ex-Wife & Loss Of Son Alan
Before his marriage to Ana, the baseball player was in a marital relationship with his high school sweetheart named, Yeliceth (first wife). They both attended U. E. San Pedro Alesandrino in Venezuela.
Even though the detail of their wedding is not out, they now-former duo were already married when Anibal Sanchez made his MLB debut with Florida Marlins in 2006.
With his wife Yeliceth, a medical student, Sanchez welcomed a son named Alan on September 6, 2007. However, the happiness was short-lived as their son sadly passed away due to dengue on December 23, 2007, at 3 months old.
This tragic incident put a lot of strain on their marriage. They divorced within a few months of their baby boy’s demise.
Net Worth | MLB Contracts & Salary
A veteran with 16 MLB seasons, Anibal Sanchez pocketed a hefty amount from his contract; in fact, his career earnings (up to the 2022 season) stand at $116.539 million.
The Venezuela-born baseball star has an estimated net worth of $40 million as of April 2024.
According to Sportrac, Sanchez earned a salary of $2 million with the Washington Nationals in the 2022 season.
The above-mentioned salary came with the Nationals offering him a minor league contract on March 13, 2022, after missing out on the 2021 season without any signings.
The MLB team then bought that minor-league contract to deploy him in the major league in the 2022 season.
Back on December 27, 2018, Anibal signed a two-year contract worth $19 million with Washington Nationals that covered the 2019 & 2020 seasons.
It even had an option of $12 million for the 2021 season, but they rejected that option deal later.
Here are Sanchez’s MLB contracts (before joining Washington Nationals):
| Team | Signing Date | Contract & Worth |
| Boston Red Sox | March 1, 2005 | A one-year contract worth $316K |
| Florida Marlins/Miami Marlins | February 1, 2006 | $327K (for one year) |
| March 1, 2007 | $381K (for one year) | |
| March 2, 2008 | A one-year deal worth $390K | |
| February 28, 2009 | A one-year deal worth $400K | |
| January 18, 2010 | $1.25 million (for one year) | |
| January 18, 2011 | $3.7 million(for one year) | |
| February 6, 2012 | A one-year contract worth $8 million | |
| Detriot Tigers | December 14, 2012 | $80 million deal for five years (2013- 2017) |
With no MLB teams offering Anibal Sanchez a new deal, he became a free agent after the 2022 season.
Also, Read About Rico Petrocelli’s Bio: Baseball, MLB & Net Worth
FAQs
What position did Anibal Sanchez play?
Anibal Sanchez plays as a pitcher in MLB since 2006, after playing minor leagues until the mid-2000s as an international free agent signing of Red Sox in 2001.
Where is Sanchez playing?
Anibal Sanchez played for Washington Nationals in the 2022 season before becoming a free agent. After MLB seasons with Miami Marlins (2006- 2012), Detroit Tigers (2012-17) & Atlanta Braves (2018), Sanchez signed a two-year deal with the Nationals in late 2018 & re-signed a one-year deal for the 2022 season.
When did Anibal made his first no-hitter?
The Venezuelan-born MLB player pitched a no-hitter in a game against the Diamonds on September 6, 2006.
