Hector Santiago

Last updated

25+2⁄3 innings. [26]

Detroit Tigers organization (2020)

Prior to the 2020 MLB season, Santiago set out a resume and cover letter to all 30 major league teams, in which he said that he would pitch in whatever position they needed, ending with a note that, "I’ll be the yes man for whoever needs me to be. My career has literally been just like this— ha-ha." [27] This caught the attention of the Detroit Tigers, who signed Santiago to a minor-league contract on January 22, 2020. [27] [28] The contract included an invitation to spring training, which placed him in competition with fellow left-handed relievers Tyler Alexander, Nick Ramirez, and Gregory Soto for a place in the Detroit bullpen. [29] The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on both major and minor league baseball extended the Tigers' bullpen battle into July, and a number of extra relievers attended Comerica Park for the final round of roster cuts that July. [30] Santiago was released from the organization on July 21, before playing a regular season game for the Tigers. [31]

Seattle Mariners (2021)

Santiago's resume approach did not garner any more team offers for the remainder of the 2020 season, or in time for 2021 spring training, and he spent the winter playing for Puerto Rico in the 2021 Caribbean Series. On April 30, the Seattle Mariners called Santiago and asked if he could make a start for their Triple-A team, the Tacoma Rainiers, on May 8. He pitched four no-hit innings, striking out seven batters and walking two. [32] On May 27, the Mariners selected his contract and promoted Santiago to the majors, where he was meant to bolster a bullpen that had been depleted by injury and COVID-19. [33]

On June 27, Santiago became the first MLB player ejected from a game as part of new policies banning the controversial "sticky stuff" that pitchers used to enhance their grip. Both Santiago and Mariners manager Scott Servais argued that the substance found on Santiago's glove was a mixture of sweat and rosin, the latter of which was allowed. [34] Santiago appealed the 10-game suspension, which was ultimately upheld, and he was suspended from July 15 to July 27. [35] Only two days after returning from that suspension, Santiago was suspended for an additional 80 games without pay following a positive test for exogenous testosterone, considered by MLB to be a performance-enhancing drug. He told reporters that his doctor in Puerto Rico had suggested that he undergo hormonal replacement therapy for an undisclosed medical condition, but he did not contest the suspension. [36] Santiago made 13 major league appearances in 2021, posting a 1-1 record and a 3.42 ERA while striking out 30 batters in 26+1⁄3 innings. [26]

Acereros de Monclova (2023–)

On November 30, 2022, Santiago signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League for the 2023 season. [37]

International career

Santiago played for the Puerto Rican national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic where he won a silver medal. [38]

Pitching style

Santiago throws a wide variety of pitches, although by far his most common is a four-seam fastball in the range of 90–96 mph. His off-speed pitches include a curveball, a slider, a changeup and an occasional cutter. [39] He is also one of the few pitchers in recent years to throw a screwball. [40] Lefties tend to only see fastballs and curveballs, while right-handers see mostly fastballs, changeups, and screwballs. [39]

According to Santiago, "I'm ... mostly on the inner half to right-handers and away to lefties. I try to get it down and in to righties and down and away to lefties, and let them basically get themselves out. How my ball moves is a big part of how I pitch." [41]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Behre, Bob. "Bloomfield Tech's Santiago called up by White Sox", The Star-Ledger , June 28, 2011. Accessed July 31, 2013. "Left-handed pitcher Hector Santiago, a 2006 Bloomfield Tech grad, was summoned by the Chicago White Sox from the Double-A Birmingham Barons yesterday to report today (Tuesday) to the big club."
  2. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (May 30, 2007). "Pierzynski worries image will cost him". Chicago Tribune . pp. 4–5. Retrieved October 8, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Hector Santiago Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Former Bristol White Sox hurler Hector Santiago and ex-Bristol Pirates pitcher Max Kranick made different kinds of MLB history on Sunday". Bristol Herald Courier . June 29, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ Fegan, James (March 21, 2018). "'What's up best friend!' Nate Jones and Hector Santiago are reunited and it feels so good". The Athletic . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Hector Santiago Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History".
  7. ↑ Van Dyck, Dave (June 26, 2011). "Sox put Danks on DL, call up Double-A lefty Santiago". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Mark Trumbo traded to Diamondbacks in three-team deal". CBSSports.com. December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Mark Trumbo goes to Arizona Diamondbacks in three-way trade with Angels, White Sox | MLB.com". Archived from the original on March 6, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  10. ↑ Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Pitchers » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball
  11. ↑ Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  12. ↑ Miller, Phil (August 1, 2016). "Twins trade Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer to Angels for Hector Santiago". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Dave (August 1, 2016). "Twins send Nolasco, Meyer to Angels in swap for Santiago". US News. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ Hector Santiago Stats | Baseball-Reference.com
  15. ↑ Major League Leaderboards » 2015 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  16. ↑ Major League Leaderboards » 2016 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  17. ↑ Major League Leaderboards » 2016 » Pitchers » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball
  18. ↑ Chase, Benjamin (September 2017). "Minnesota Twins May Not See Hector Santiago Again". Fansided. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  19. ↑ Todd, Jeff (February 14, 2018). "White Sox Sign Hector Santiago". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  20. ↑ "White Sox's Hector Santiago: Contract purchased by White Sox". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Transactions". MLB.com .
  22. ↑ "Mets Designate Hector Santiago".
  23. 1 2 "White Sox call up Santiago, reinstate Castillo". MLB.com. Advanced Media Group. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Héctor Santiago Stats, Fantasy and News". MLB.com . Advanced Media Group. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Ramírez hits slam, 3-run shot in return, Indians rout ChiSox". ESPN. Associated Press. September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Hector Santiago Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  27. 1 2 McCosky, Chris (February 12, 2020). "Starter, reliever, pitch BP and clean spikes? Tigers' Hector Santiago is up for it". The Detroit News . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  28. ↑ McCosky, Chris (January 22, 2020). "Tigers bringing former White Sox lefty Hector Santiago to big-league camp". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  29. ↑ Woodbery, Evan (January 22, 2020). "Tigers sign veteran lefty to compete for bullpen role". MLive.com . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  30. ↑ Fenech, Anthony (July 12, 2020). "Detroit Tigers' bullpen race: A look at who has a spot locked down, and who still fighting". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  31. ↑ Petzold, Evan (July 21, 2020). "Detroit Tigers prospect Tarik Skubal joins player pool; Hector Santiago released". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  32. ↑ Divish, Ryan (May 27, 2021). "Hector Santiago sent out a resume to 30 MLB teams in 2020. Finally, the Mariners gave him a cal". The Seattle Times . Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  33. ↑ Kramer, Daniel (May 27, 2021). "Southpaw wanted gig, filled out résumé". MLB.com. Advanced Media Group. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  34. ↑ Condotta, Bob (June 27, 2021). "Mariners win first game in Chicago as Hector Santiago is ejected for violating illegal substance rule". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  35. ↑ Kramer, Daniel (July 15, 2021). "Santiago's suspension upheld after appeal". MLB.com. Advanced Media Group. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  36. ↑ Divish, Ryan (July 29, 2021). "Mariners pitcher Hector Santiago receives 80-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  37. ↑ "ACEREROS SUMA A HÉCTOR SANTIAGO A SU STAFF DE PITCHEO". acereros.com.mx (in Spanish). November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  38. ↑ Thornburg, Chad (February 8, 2017). "Young stars join Beltran, Yadi for Puerto Rico". MLB.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Hector Santiago". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  40. ↑ Schoenfeld, Bruce (July 10, 2014). "The Mystery of the Vanishing Screwball". The New York Times. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  41. ↑ Laurila, David (November 16, 2012). "Q&A: Hector Santiago, Screwball Artist". Fangraphs . Retrieved November 16, 2012.
Hector Santiago
Hector Santiago on June 26, 2012.jpg
Santiago with the Chicago White Sox in 2012
Acereros de Monclova
Pitcher
Born: (1987-12-16) December 16, 1987 (age 35)
Newark, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 6, 2011, for the Chicago White Sox
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