# Phoenix Sanders

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**Phoenix Clark Sanders** (born June 5, 1995) is an American former professional [baseball](/source/Baseball) [pitcher](/source/Pitcher). He played college baseball for [Daytona State College](/source/Daytona_State_College) and the [University of South Florida](/source/South_Florida_Bulls_baseball). He played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) for the [Tampa Bay Rays](/source/Tampa_Bay_Rays).

## Early life and amateur career

Sanders was born in [Augsburg](/source/Augsburg), [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria), [Germany](/source/Germany). His parents are Kevin and Lorea, his two brothers are Dallas and Hudson, and his sister is Brooklyn.[1][2] He grew up in [Orlando, Florida](/source/Orlando,_Florida). He attended [Buchholz High School](/source/Buchholz_High_School) when his family moved to [Gainesville, Florida](/source/Gainesville,_Florida) in 2009. He was a member of the varsity baseball team in his final two years and won seven games with a 0.55 ERA as a senior.[3]

Sanders began his [college baseball](/source/College_baseball) career at [Daytona State College](/source/Daytona_State_College) after not receiving any [NCAA Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I) scholarship offers out of high school.[4] As a freshman, he made 12 starts in which he was 4–6 with a 3.17 ERA.[1] He played [collegiate summer baseball](/source/Collegiate_summer_baseball) for the [Willmar Stingers](/source/Willmar_Stingers) of the [Northwoods League](/source/Northwoods_League) after his freshman season and had a 1–0 record over three starts with a 1.89 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 innings.[5] He was named to the Northwood’s League 200 Top Prospect list by College Baseball Daily.[5] As a sophomore, Sanders made 16 appearances with 14 starts and three complete games, and went 6–6 with a 2.50 ERA and 71 strikeouts.[6]

After the season, he transferred to the [University of South Florida](/source/South_Florida_Bulls_baseball) for his remaining collegiate eligibility.[3] As a junior in 2016, he was 5–5 with a 4.15 ERA and 95 strikeouts (5th in the conference) in 95.1 innings.[7] As a senior, Sanders was 6–2 with a 2.78 ERA and 109 strikeouts (2nd in the conference) in 97 innings over 16 starts, with 4.36 strikeouts per walk (2nd).[8][1] He was named 2017 All-American Athletic Conference Second Team.[1]

## Professional career

### Tampa Bay Rays

Sanders was selected in the 10th round of the [2017 Major League Baseball draft](/source/2017_Major_League_Baseball_draft) by the [Tampa Bay Rays](/source/Tampa_Bay_Rays).[8] After signing with the team for a [signing bonus](/source/Signing_bonus) of $7,500, he was assigned to the [rookie-level](/source/Rookie-level) [Princeton Rays](/source/Princeton_Rays), with whom he was 2–3 with a 4.42 ERA in 38 2⁄3 innings in which he struck out 40 batters.[9][7][10] Sanders began the 2018 season with the [Single-A](/source/Class_A_(baseball)) [Bowling Green Hot Rods](/source/Bowling_Green_Hot_Rods), where he was 5–3 with three saves and had a 3.02 ERA and struck out 71 batters in 50 2⁄3 innings (12.6 strikeouts per 9 innings) over 28 relief appearances, before being promoted to the [Charlotte Stone Crabs](/source/Charlotte_Stone_Crabs) of the [High-A](/source/Class_A-Advanced) [Florida State League](/source/Florida_State_League) with whom he was 1–1 with a 3.29 ERA in 13 2⁄3 innings.[11]

Sanders was assigned to the [Double-A](/source/Double-A_(baseball)) [Montgomery Biscuits](/source/Montgomery_Biscuits) at the start of the 2019 season, for whom he was a Southern League Mid-Season All Star, after pitching in 37 games and posting a 3–3 record with 15 saves (2nd in the league) and a 1.81 ERA, with 57 strikeouts in 49 2⁄3 innings (10.3 strikeouts per 9 innings).[12][13] He was then promoted to the [Triple-A](/source/Triple-A_(baseball)) [Durham Bulls](/source/Durham_Bulls), with whom he was 1–0 with a 2.38 ERA in 11 1⁄3 innings.[12][14] Sanders was invited to Rays' spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2020 but was eventually reassigned to the minor leagues.[15] Sanders did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the [Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball) season because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic).

Sanders returned to Durham for the 2021 season. He had a 5–2 record with two saves and a 3.38 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched (11.3 strikeouts per 9 innings) over 50 relief appearances (2nd in the league), 1.5 walks per 9 innings pitched (5th), an 0.906 WHIP (6th), and 7.27 strikeouts/walk (4th).[16][17]

Sanders was promoted to the Rays major league roster on April 14, 2022.[18] He made his MLB debut the same day, giving up one earned run and striking out two batters in three innings pitched in a 3–6 loss to the [Oakland Athletics](/source/2022_Oakland_Athletics_season).[19] He was [designated for assignment](/source/Designated_for_assignment) on August 22.[20] For the season, he was 0–0 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 2⁄3 innings.[7]

### Baltimore Orioles

On August 24, 2022, Sanders was claimed off waivers by the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles). On September 3, Sanders was designated for assignment and was sent outright to the Triple-A [Norfolk Tides](/source/Norfolk_Tides).

Sanders began the 2023 season with Triple-A Norfolk, making 9 relief appearances and registering a 2.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched.[7] On May 19, 2023, Sanders was released by the Orioles organization.[21]

### San Francisco Giants

On May 24, 2023, Sanders signed a minor league contract with the [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) organization.[22] In 13 games for the Triple–A [Sacramento River Cats](/source/Sacramento_River_Cats), he struggled to an 8.16 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 14 1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 14, Sanders was released by the Giants.[23]

### Gastonia Baseball Club

On April 18, 2024, Sanders signed with the [Gastonia Baseball Club](/source/Gastonia_Baseball_Club) of the [Atlantic League of Professional Baseball](/source/Atlantic_League_of_Professional_Baseball).[24] In 24 games for Gastonia, he compiled a 1.73 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 12 [saves](/source/Save_(baseball)) across 26 innings pitched. On July 16, Sanders was released by Gastonia.[24]

On January 29, 2025, Sanders announced his retirement from professional baseball.[25]

## References

1. ["Phoenix Sanders – Baseball"](https://gousfbulls.com/sports/baseball/roster/phoenix-sanders/5498). *USF Athletics*

1. ["USF's Phoenix Sanders embodies a winning culture"](https://www.usforacle.com/2016/03/30/usfs-phoenix-sanders-embodies-a-winning-culture/). March 30, 2016.

1. Portell, Vinnie (March 30, 2016). ["USF's Phoenix Sanders embodies a winning culture"](https://www.usforacle.com/2016/03/30/usfs-phoenix-sanders-embodies-a-winning-culture/). *[The Oracle](/source/The_Oracle_(University_of_South_Florida))*. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. Berry, Adam (April 14, 2022). ["Phoenix's rise to bigs 'a dream' for USF alum"](https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/phoenix-sanders-former-usf-called-up-to-rays). *[MLB.com](/source/MLB.com)*. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Phoenix Sanders Recognized as Top Player In The Northwood's League"](https://dscfalcons.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/Phoenix_Sanders_Recognized_as_Top_Player_In_The_Northwood-s_League). *[Daytona State College](/source/Daytona_State_College)*. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["NWL: Hughston tops list of former Stingers eligible for draft"](https://www.wctrib.com/sports/nwl-hughston-tops-list-of-former-stingers-eligible-for-draft). *[West Central Tribune](/source/West_Central_Tribune)*. May 14, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Phoenix Sanders Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sander000pho). *Baseball-Reference.com*

1. ["Rays select USF pitcher Phoenix Sanders in 10th round"](https://www.tampabay.com/rays-select-usf-pitcher-phoenix-sanders-in-10th-round/2327163/). *[Tampa Bay Times](/source/Tampa_Bay_Times)*. June 13, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Phoenix Sanders – Baseball Stats – The Baseball Cube"](https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/201557/). *TheBaseballCube.com*

1. ["Sanders is Princeton P-Ray of the day"](https://www.bdtonline.com/sports/sanders-is-princeton-p-ray-of-the-day/article_4ab5cf56-61fd-11e7-8447-53d00ebb63f4.html). *[Bluefield Daily Telegraph](/source/Bluefield_Daily_Telegraph)*. July 6, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Hot Rods' rally falls short against South Bend"](https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/hot_rods/hot-rods-rally-falls-short-against-south-bend/article_6d7b07f2-05d9-5f23-985e-67717e7798a7.html). *[The Daily News](/source/The_Daily_News_(Kentucky))*. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Phoenix Sanders Stats, Fantasy & News"](https://www.milb.com/player/phoenix-sanders-676637). *[Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)*

1. ["2019 Southern League Pitching Leaders"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=9b466c3f&type=pitch). *Baseball-Reference.com*

1. Murnin, Shawn (April 29, 2020). ["2018 Hot Rods: Where Have They Gone?"](https://bghotrodsblog.mlblogs.com/2018-hot-rods-where-have-they-gone-53e62cce3693). *[The Daily News](/source/The_Daily_News_(Kentucky))*. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Gone for now, but USF pitching pair could soon be back with Rays"](https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/03/12/gone-for-now-but-usf-pitching-pair-could-soon-be-back-with-rays/). *Tampa Bay Times*. March 12, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["2021 Triple-A East Pitching Leaders"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?id=d615ccef&type=pitch). *Baseball-Reference.com*

1. ["Rays' Drew Rasmussen worked on expanding his pitching repertoire in offseason"](https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2022/03/19/rays-drew-rasmussen-worked-on-expanding-his-pitching-repertoire-in-offseason/). *Tampa Bay Times*. March 19, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Rays' Phoenix Sanders: Moves up to bigs"](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rays-phoenix-sanders-moves-up-to-bigs/). *[CBS Sports](/source/CBS_Sports)*. [RotoWire](/source/RotoWire). April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. ["Irvin pitches into 7th, A's take 3 of 4 from Rays, 6–3"](https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401354339). *[ESPN.com](/source/ESPN.com)*. [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press). April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.

1. McDonald, Darragh. ["Rays Reinstate, Option Nick Anderson; Designate Phoenix Sanders"](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/rays-reinstate-option-nick-anderson-designate-phoenix-sanders.html). *mlbtraderumors*. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

1. ["MiLB Transactions, May 19, 2023"](https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-19). *[Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)*

1. ["MiLB Transactions, May 24, 2023"](https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-24). *[Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)*

1. ["MiLB Transactions, July 14, 2023"](https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-14/p-4). *[Minor League Baseball](/source/Minor_League_Baseball)*

1. ["2024 Transactions"](http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927). *Pointstreak Sports Technologies*. Retrieved July 16, 2024.

1. ["instagram.com"](https://www.instagram.com/p/DFabHjmR3IW/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==)

## External links

- [South Florida Bulls bio](https://gousfbulls.com/sports/baseball/roster/phoenix-sanders/5498)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Phoenix Sanders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Sanders) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Sanders?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.