Ervin Santana Stats & Scouting Report

IP	2486
ERA	4.113
WHIP	1.274
BB/9	2.809
SO/9	7.161

Full name Ervin Ramon Santana
Born 12/12/1982 in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Colegio Cristiano El Alfarero
Debut 05/17/2005

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Bothered by a sore shoulder, Santana began the 2004 season in extended spring training and didn't join Arkansas until mid-May. He broke down a month later with a sore elbow. Though an MRI showed no structural problems in his elbow, he didn't take the mound again until tossing three innings during the final week of instructional league. When healthy, Santana has the most electric stuff in the system. During his breakthrough 2003 season, he often opened games pitching at 90 mph before cranking his fastball up into the mid-90s. His heater has good, late life, especially down in the strike zone. When he follows through on his slider, it's a true put-away pitch that peaks at 87 mph. He also had a tender elbow in 2003, so health is the greatest concern with Santana. He's reluctant to change speeds, though his changeup has the makings of an average pitch. He still thinks more velocity is the solution to pitching out of jams. Despite his setbacks, Santana still could make his major league debut at some point in 2005. He'll begin his comeback back in Double-A.
Previously known as Johan and believed to be 10 months younger, Santana was the organization's and California League's 2003 pitcher of the year. He also was selected for the Futures Games. He missed a couple of starts with a tender elbow after a promotion to Double-A but finished the season strong. Santana's electrifying stuff might be as good as any in the minors. His fastball regularly hits the upper 90s, topping out at 98 mph and sitting at 93-97. He throws a nasty 78-87 mph slider for strikes, varying speeds and breaks at will, and has a good feel for his changeup. Santana has a tendency to overthrow and occasionally fly open on the front side of his delivery and collapse in the back, affecting his command. He has displayed the ability to recognize those mistakes and make in-game adjustments on his own. Santana has all the makings of a dominant frontline starter. The additions of Bartolo Colon and Kelvim Escobar in Anaheim buy him an extra year in the upper levels before he's ready to make a push for a job in 2005.
Santana has grown two inches and added 20 pounds since signing for $700,000--and he's getting bigger. After leading the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts in 2001, he finished third in the Midwest League last year. Licey manager and Red Sox advance scout Dave Jauss called Santana the best young prospect in the Dominican League. The ball screams out of Santana's hand, coming in as high as 98 mph. He pitches in the mid- 90s and flirts with the upper 90s. He made progress with his plus slider last season and has the makings of an above-average changeup. With the help of pitching instructors Howie Gershberg and Mike Butcher, Santana eliminated the head jerk in his delivery. Santana has good control, filling the strike zone with three quality pitches, and needs to fine-tune his command to move the ball to different quadrants. He occasionally tips his changeup by slowing his arm speed. Similar to a young Ramon Martinez, Santana has frontline stuff and a projectable picher's frame. He'll head to Class A Rancho Cucamonga's rotation at the start of 2003.
After signing for $700,000 in 2000, Santana took his first step toward living up to lofty expectations. He earned a promotion to Provo after 10 starts, yet still led the Rookie-level Arizona League in strikeouts. Santana reminds the Angels of Ramon Ortiz and is more advanced at the same stage of his career. Santana has long fingers and a loose, lanky frame that oozes projectability. His mechanics were surprisingly polished and consistent. He blows 91-93 mph fastballs with an easy arm action and is capable of touching 95. He already is equipped with an advanced changeup. While Santana led the AZL in strikeouts, he also led the league in walks. He worked on his breaking ball in instructional league and needs to throw more strikes with it. Built along the lines of Ortiz and Pedro Martinez, Santana will face the same challenges they do in holding up over a full season. The Angels would like to see Santana vie for a spot in Cedar Rapids this year. They moved Ortiz rapidly and aren't afraid to do so with other precocious pitchers.
Anaheim's most significant international signing in recent years was Venzuelan Francisco Rodriguez. Santana is No. 2 with a bullet after agreeing to an undisclosed six-figure bonus last September. At 6-foot-2 with extremely long arms and fingers, Santana oozes the projectablility the Angels covet. If his fastball gets any quicker he'll be truly overpowering, because he already throws 90-93 mph with a peak of 95. His breaking ball and changeup are still works in progress. He flies open with his delivery and drags his arm when he throws his slider, but both it and his change should become at least average pitches. He's more advanced than fellow Dominican Ramon Ortiz was when he joined the organization, and Ortiz was 19 to Santana's 16. In 2001, Santana could pitch in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League or make his U.S. debut in the Pioneer League.

Minor League Top Prospects

Before moving up to Double-A, Santana established himself as one of the Cal League's few pitchers with overpowering stuff. His electric 93-97 mph heat and darting slider left hitters walking back to the dugout, and he also earned high marks for his poise and rhythm. He was named the league's pitcher of the year and won the ERA title. "I haven't seen a slider as tight as that in a long time," Bakersfield manager Omer Munoz said. "He looks like he's been pitching for 40 years with his body language on the mound." Santana's delivery and arm action are clean and effortless. "It's easy gas," an American League scout said. While his slider is a true knockout pitch, it tends to flatten out when he throws it 85-86 mph. His changeup is average.
Many of the pitchers with the best sheer velocity in the league, such as Burlington's Colt Griffin and Michigan's Anthony Pluta, lacked command and got hit hard. That wasn't the case with Santana, at 18 the youngest player on this list. His ceiling is as high as any pitcher in the MWL this year. Because he's so youthful, the quality of Santana's stuff varies from outing to outing. When at his best, he has a 91-94 mph fastball that tops out at 98, a plus slider and an average changeup that promises to get better. His mechanics are impressive, as he pitches without effort and gets the ball on hitters quick.
A physically mature 17-year-old, Santana led the Arizona League in strikeouts less than a year after signing a $600,000 bonus with the Angels. His fastball ranged from 91 to 95 mph. "He's a pure power pitcher with a great approach to pitching," Comstock said. "He goes right at hitters. He throws a lot of strikes and throws every pitch with a purpose." Angels manager Brian Harper compared Santana to Anaheim ace Ramon Ortiz, but said Santana is further along at the same stage. "He also reminds you of Pedro Martinez the way he goes about his business," Munoz said. "He had the best fastball in the league."