Born06/04/1984 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
ProfileHt.: 6'3" / Wt.: 194 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Escuela Julian Martinez (DR) HS
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
The Padres have seen Santo as one of the better pure arms in the system since his strong showing in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2002. He was finally ready for full-season ball last year, and while he was rarely dominant, his ERA improved every month during the season. Santo is projectable and he's already strong. He operates with smooth mechanics and an effortless delivery. His fastball resides in the low 90s and hits 95. He has good makeup and an aggressive approach, with a strong drive to improve. Santo's offspeed pitches are still a work in progress. He throws his slider too hard, eliminating its downward break, and he has demonstrated little feel for his changeup. He offers considerable upside, but until he refines his secondary stuff he's a likely candidate for an eventual move to the bullpen. His development will require patience, and he'll most likely return to low Class A for 2006.
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