Chad Santos

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #24 prospect in 2004
  Santos is one of two Hawaiian first-base prospects for the Royals, joining Kila Kaaihue, and he's the best defender at the position in the system. He has soft hands and solid range. He also rivals another first baseman, 2003 third-rounder Brian McFall, for the most pure power in the organization. Santos can drive the ball out of any park, but he struggles desperately against lefthanders. He has yet to hit better than .165 against southpaws in his career, posting a .116 mark with 44 strikeouts in 86 at-bats against them last year. He sometimes gets caught trying to hit everything out of the park and could help himself by going the other way more and gaining a better grasp on the strike zone. Santos will return to Double-A to continue working on his approach against lefthanders.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #21 prospect in 2002
  If Ken Harvey can't handle the defensive responsibilities of first base, Santos could be Mike Sweeney's eventual successor in Kansas City. He has the most raw power in the organization, though he hasn't tapped into it as well as Brandon Berger has with his. Santos can drive the ball out of any part of any ballpark, but he needs to realize that sometimes singles can be useful as well. He did make some adjustments last year, shortening his swing and using more of the field, but he still hit just .252 and struck out too much. Santos has soft hands and is a very good defender. He'll be challenged this year in high Class A, where Wilmington's Frawley Stadium is extremely pitcher-friendly.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #15 prospect in 2000
  After starting the year in the Class A South Atlantic League and hitting just .201, Santos had more success in the Northwest League. The league's home run leader was almost the easiest call on this list. To a man, league managers said Santos had as much power, if not more, than any player in the league. But his inability to make consistent contact cast doubt on whether he would be able to put up big numbers at higher levels. "His swing is a little long, but he's got real power," Poquette said. "He can hit it as far as anybody. He needs to learn to lay off breaking pitches out of the zone. If he improves his approach and pitch selection, he will hit for power, because he can hit it as far as anybody."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  After starting the year in the Class A South Atlantic League and hitting just .201, Santos had more success in the Northwest League. The league's home run leader was almost the easiest call on this list. To a man, league managers said Santos had as much power, if not more, than any player in the league. But his inability to make consistent contact cast doubt on whether he would be able to put up big numbers at higher levels. "His swing is a little long, but he's got real power," Poquette said. "He can hit it as far as anybody. He needs to learn to lay off breaking pitches out of the zone. If he improves his approach and pitch selection, he will hit for power, because he can hit it as far as anybody."