Former minor leaguer Mario Sánchez has been released from the CTBC Brothers’ main roster in his third season in the CPBL. Although he remains eligible to play in the minors, his “de-registration” means he can no longer pitch for the top team this season. The move comes after Sánchez suffered a shoulder injury that has kept him off the mound since April.
Before his injury, the right-hander was enjoying a stellar campaign. In 23 1/3 innings, he posted a 1.54 ERA with 26 strikeouts and remarkably did not issue a single walk. He remains the only pitcher in the CPBL this season to throw more than 17 innings without walking a batter.
Sánchez, a native of Venezuela, also represented his country in the 2024 Premier12 tournament. He pitched twice against the United States, including a standout performance in the opening round in Mexico. There, he struck out 10 batters over six innings, allowing just one run, en route to a victory over a U.S. lineup that featured four players who have debuted in MLB in 2025. He finished the tournament with a 3.12 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 8 2/3 total innings, standing out as one of Venezuela’s top performers.
If healthy, Sánchez could be a strong candidate to represent Venezuela in this year’s Copa América, especially with MLB players unlikely to participate. A solid showing there could put him firmly on the radar for Venezuela for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
WBN CPBL: https://worldbaseball.com/league/taiwan-2/chinese-professional-baseball-league/
