Michael Santos

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #19 prospect in 2016
  Signed for $250,000 in January 2012, the Giants have been patient with the lanky, 6-foot-4 righthander. He didn't pitch at all his first year and made just four appearances in 2013 as San Francisco let him add weight. After a breakout 2014 season in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Santos pitched sporadically at low Class A Augusta in 2015 when a sore arm limited him to one brief outing in the first three months of the season. The Giants say he suffered no structural damage, just fatigue, and that he had no problems in his late-season return or in instructional league. A lack of innings and experience is a concern, but Santos has a quick arm and advanced control, and he sinks and runs his above-average fastball and generates angle. His heater sits 91-94 mph, but he still has room to grow. His average curveball is almost like two different offerings in one because he throws it in the high 70s as a bigger, but still biting, 11-to-5 offering and also as a smaller-breaking low-80s slurve. His slower curve is a more reliable pitch now, but his slurve has the potential to develop into an average slider as he gains further velocity. Santos' fringe-average, inconsistent changeup has some armside fade. He likes to toy with hitters to the point where the Giants would like to see him attack hitters more aggressively with his fastball. Even with an abbreviated 2015, Santos showed enough to advance to high Class A San Jose in 2016.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #18 prospect in 2015
  The Giants signed Santos for $250,000 in January 2012, but he didn't throw his first pro pitch until late 2013 as the club worked with him to gain weight and strength. He emerged in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2014, finishing among the league leaders in opponent average (.259) and walk rate (2.0 per nine innings). Santos appears to have plenty of projection left in his skinny but athletic frame, and his present stuff impresses with an average 90-91 mph fastball that touches 93. His slow, low-70s curveball needs more depth, but it is already a pitch he commands and throws with conviction. His promising changeup flashes average and Santos has some feel on when to mix it in. He repeats his high three-quarters delivery that shows little effort and a loose arm, though his finish has a slight recoil. He shows above-average control for his age and should be ready to handle the jump to low Class A Augusta.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #10 prospect in 2014
  One of the biggest surprises of the AZL season was the performance of Santos, who came into the league with four professional starts under his belt but came a late collapse away from winning the league ERA title. The Giants signed him for $250,000 in 2012 and held him out of action for most of two seasons so that he could build strength on his lanky but loose-armed, athletic body. The Giants turned Santos loose this season, and he turned out to be one of the most impressive pitchers in the league. His 93 mph fastball already has plenty of life and he stands to add velocity as he fills out. "If that fastball gets a couple of miles (per hour) on it, it's going to be harder to be touched," Giants manager Nestor Rojas said. Santos can spin a curveball from 68-74 mph and consistently throw it for strikes. It's an advanced pitch considering his experience level, and he will only add power. His changeup shows potential for being a third quality pitch. Like Keury Mella from last year's AZL Giants team, Santos may be ready to move up to full-season ball for an encore.

• December, 2015 Scouting Report
  Signed for $250,000 in January 2012, the Giants have been patient with the lanky, 6-foot-4 righthander. He didn't pitch at all his first year and made just four appearances in 2013 as San Francisco let him add weight. After a breakout 2014 season in the Rookie-level Arizona League, Santos pitched sporadically at low Class A Augusta in 2015 when a sore arm limited him to one brief outing in the first three months of the season. The Giants say he suffered no structural damage, just fatigue, and that he had no problems in his late-season return or in instructional league. A lack of innings and experience is a concern, but Santos has a quick arm and advanced control, and he sinks and runs his above-average fastball and generates angle. His heater sits 91-94 mph, but he still has room to grow. His average curveball is almost like two different offerings in one because he throws it in the high 70s as a bigger, but still biting, 11-to-5 offering and also as a smaller-breaking low-80s slurve. His slower curve is a more reliable pitch now, but his slurve has the potential to develop into an average slider as he gains further velocity. Santos' fringe-average, inconsistent changeup has some armside fade. He likes to toy with hitters to the point where the Giants would like to see him attack hitters more aggressively with his fastball. Even with an abbreviated 2015, Santos showed enough to advance to high Class A San Jose in 2016.