Biggest pleasant surprise of Phillies’ 2024 season is an easy choice

It is rare that a 95-win season and a division title feels like a disappointment. For the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans, however, the 2024 season's ending felt deflating. Expectations were high and the early exit in the NLDS was not what many envisioned this past summer.

While the general feeling around the Phillies' organization right now is disappointment, there were plenty of bright spots over what was largely a successful season.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the breakout season that left-handed pitcher Cristopher Sánchez displayed in 2024.

Cristopher Sánchez was the biggest pleasant surprise of Phillies’ 2024 season

Entering the season, Sánchez was viewed as a potential rotation member and as the fourth or fifth starter. It did not take long for the Phillies to see that their 27-year-old lefty could be more than that.

Sánchez had the best season of his short Major League career. He almost doubled his previous career high in innings pitched, logging 188 2/3 for the season. He made 31 starts and posted a 3.32 ERA while pitching two complete games, including a shutout. The left-hander also finished the season with the seventh-best fWAR (4.7) among qualified pitchers.

All of these numbers are vast improvements from just a season ago. In 2023, the left-hander started just 18 games and threw 99 1/3 innings after being called up in June. His ERA was slightly higher at 3.44. The increased workload in 2024 did not set Sánchez back at all.

The Phillies won their only game of the NLDS in Sánchez's Game 2 start against the New York Mets. In that game, he allowed two earned runs on five hits through five innings. While he pitched much better at home this season, the fact that he can hold his own in big-game situations must instill some confidence in the Phillies' coaching staff and front office.

Cristopher Sánchez's 2025 outlook

Sánchez became a key figure in a Phillies rotation that was widely considered one of the best in the game all season long. Given the big steps in terms of games and innings pitched, he will head into 2025 likely as the Phillies' third starter.

The increase in usage and development of his changeup has been a major difference maker for the Phillies' starter. He has thrown it more and more each season and it was the pitch that was the most effective with just a .178 XBA. Look for more of that to continue next season now that he has found his niche.

He will look to replicate and maybe even expand on his productive 2024 season. If healthy, the battery of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Sánchez could once again be a formidable force for opposing hitters.

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