Domingo Santana
| AB | 1680 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .255 |
| OBP | .341 |
| SLG | .446 |
| HR | 77 |
- Full name Domingo Alberto Santana
- Born 08/05/1992 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 232 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 07/01/2014
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Part of the haul from the July 2011 trade of Hunter Pence to the Phillies, Santana certainly looks the part but is the subject of the widest gulf in opinion in the Astros system. He reached the majors in 2014 but had a disastrous debut, striking out in 14 of his 18 plate appearances. The big, righthanded slugger has above-average raw power and an above-average throwing arm, as well as the athleticism and average speed to make him a profile right fielder. Santana has a feast-or-famine approach and might push 200 strikeouts as an everyday regular, but he also could hit 25-30 homers. Scouts don't believe he'll be able to tap into that power because of poor bat control, poor strike-zone discipline and a long swing with a low bat path. Santana can look awful against secondary offerings and get beat by velocity, a deadly combination. Scouts have begun to question his aptitude and inconsistent energy level. Still, Santana is just 22 and has had success at upper levels. He will get a chance to win a corner-outfield spot in Houston in 2015, but he's young enough to go to Houston's new Triple-A Fresno affiliate without it being a huge setback. -
Former general manager Ed Wade kicked off the Astros rebuild in July 2011 with the Hunter Pence trade, which brought back two 2013 big league rookies, righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid, plus Jonathan Singleton and Santana, the Nos. 7 and 8 prospects. Signed for $330,000 in 2009, Santana jumped straight to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League as a 16-year-old, which helps explain how he has more than 1,750 at-bats even though he'll play most of the 2013 season at age 21. He fits the prototype of what scouts look for in a power-hitting right fielder, combining strength with athleticism. He's average defensively with an above-average arm, and while he's a physical 6-foot-5, he's an average runner who even filled in as a center fielder at times in 2013. At the plate, Santana's long arms ensure that he'll always strike out some, something he exacerbates with a high hand position, which forces his the bat to travel a long way to get through the zone. But when he gets his arms extended, he can hit the ball out of the park to all fields. At Double-A Corpus Christi in 2013, 11 of his 25 home runs went to right or center field. Ready for Triple-A and added to the 40-man roster, Santana is ahead of schedule, but he needs further refinement before he's ready to be a power threat in the middle of the Astros lineup. -
The Phillies originally signed Santana for $330,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, and he was advanced enough to make his pro debut in the United States that year as a 16-year-old. The Astros acquired him along with first baseman/outfielder Jonathan Singleton and righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid in the 2011 Hunter Pence trade. Some scouts see significant first-division right-field regular tools with Santana, who has size, long levers and significant raw power. He's an average runner with above-average speed underway, and he has a plus throwing arm. The biggest question with Santana is how athletic he is and how much he'll adjust against better pitching. He hits to the opposite field well for his age and experience level, and scouts are split on whether he has the aptitude to learn to pull the ball with authority. He has holes in his swing thanks to his long arms, and some scouts wonder about his hands and timing, grading him as a fringy hitter. Others think he's athletic enough to make the adjustments to fully tap into his power. Santana figures to play alongside George Springer in the outfield again in 2013, this time in Double-A. -
Santana was just 16 when he made his U.S. debut in 2009. He started 2011 as an 18-year old in low Class A with the Phillies, who signed him out of the Dominican for $330,000, and he stayed in the South Atlantic League after getting included in the Hunter Pence trade. Santana had 10 multihit games in his 17 starts for Lexington. Scouts acknowledge Santana's raw hitting approach and most think he'll always have his share of strikeouts. If he makes consistent contact, though, he could become a prototypical right fielder in the Jermaine Dye mold. Santana's combination of tremendous leverage and excellent bat speed creates monstrous raw power. He needs at-bats to see more pitches, learn to identify them and manage the strike zone better. He's an average runner, though not a basestealer, and has a plus arm. He has the tools to be an above-average defender in right field. The Astros envision an outfield of the future with J.D. Martinez in left, George Springer in center and Santana in right by the time they become competitive. If Santana cuts down on his strikeouts, he could move rapidly. He has a chance to put up sick numbers in Lancaster in 2012. -
The Phillies don't often give six-figure bonuses to international prospects, but they signed Santana for $330,000 in 2008. Born in the Bahamas and signed out of the Dominican Republic, he wasn't ready to handle low Class A pitching last year as a 17- year-old. His numbers picked up when he went to Williamsport in June, though his inexperience still showed. All the pieces are there for Santana to be the player Philadelphia hopes he can be--a power-hitter who plays above-average defense on an outfield corner. He's athletic and physically imposing. Fundamentally sound at the plate, he has a natural load and incredible raw power. He works the center of the field well and doesn't get pull-happy. He'll have to do a better job of recognizing pitches, as he struggles with hard stuff inside and breaking balls away. He has the plus speed and arm strength to be a quality right fielder, though he needs more game repetition to improve defensively. When scouts fall in love with his upside and tools, Santana summons Vladimir Guerrero comparisons, but he's still very raw and a lot has to go right for him to reach his ceiling. The Phillies don't want him to get in over his head again, so he'll have to earn a return to Lakewood in spring training. -
Philadelphia's instructional league program featured a plethora of athletic, high-upside outfielders such as Santana, converted pitcher Jiwan James and 2009 draftees Kelly Dugan, Kyrell Hudson and Alston Altherr. Santana still stands out in that crowd. Born in the Bahamas, Santana signed for a $330,000 bonus--big money for Sal Agostinelli's budget-conscious international department--and had a strong debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League despite being its second-youngest player at age 16. Santana is a physical monster and yet can run the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds. He has reached 90 mph off the mound and has a plus arm in right field. His hitting tools are more advanced than even the Phillies expected. Add in his raw power, and his total package evokes Jermaine Dye. Santana also speaks English well. Santana may lose some athleticism, speed and looseness as he fills out physically. Mostly, he just needs at-bats to learn how to adjust to hard stuff inside and to improve his pitch recognition. Santana's upside, performance and age give him a slight edge over his fellow toolsy outfielders. He should move up to Williamsport next season, but could jump to low Class A with a strong spring.
Minor League Top Prospects
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After going 0-for-17 with 14 strikeouts last year in his major league debut with the Astros, Santana returned to Triple-A this season. He again excelled in the PCL, and his performance again made him the subject of trade talks. Houston included him in the package they sent to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers at the trade deadline. Between Fresno and Colorado Springs, Santana hit .333/.426/.573 with 18 home runs and led the league in slugging percentage. Listed at 6-foot-5, Santana has long arms and a long swing, and has struck out at least 135 times in six straight seasons. But that has never stopped him from getting to his raw power, and he is capable of driving the ball out to all fields. Santana has experience in all three outfield positions, and the Brewers have given him an extended look in center field since acquiring him. While he has a plus arm, he's more of an average runner who best fits the right-field profile in the long run. -
The windfall from the Hunter Pence trade with the Phillies in 2011 could be something special for the Astros, with Santana giving it a big boost. (Houston also acquired first baseman Jonathan Singleton and righthander Jarred Cosart in the deal.) He ranked third in the league in homers (behind two veterans) and in slugging (behind a pair of batters repeating the league). If a pitch ventures close to the strike zone, Santana probably is going to go into attack mode, not uncommon for young power hitters. But when he made contact, it was with authority. The ball jumped off his bat, and Santana showed better power to the opposite field, in his case right-center. Defensively, he showed a plus arm, solid range and had decent-enough speed. His impact could be muted by an excessive strikeout rate, as league pitchers had success busting the 6-foot-5 Santana on the inside corner. Nevertheless, he?s been a bargain since signing for $330,000, and the Astros should reap the benefit of the Phillies? investment. -
Santana cuts an imposing figure at the plate with his physical, 6-foot-5 frame. He shows not only tremendous power to all fields but also signs of becoming a complete hitter. Though he benefited from playing at the launching pad that is Clear Channel Stadium, he was just as productive on the road (.300/.374/.521, 11 homers) as he was in Lancaster (.304/.396/.553, 12 homers). Resisting the temptations of his home park, Santana made strides in his approach. He toned down his aggression from early in the season and did a better job of staying up the middle. He learned that with as much strength as he has, he doesn't need to sell out to try to hit home runs. Santana is still a work in progress defensively but has the tools to be an asset in right field. His arm is strong enough for him to stay at the position. He's an average runner. -
When the Astros selected Santana as the player to be named in the Hunter Pence trade, he stayed in the SAL and shifted from Lakewood to Lexington. He also immediately became one of the best offensive prospects in a thin Houston system, offering as much raw power as any Astros farmhand. The keys to Santana unlocking that power to all fields will be learning to recognize pitches, cope with breaking balls and make more contact. While his bat speed is his most notable tool, he's an all-around athlete with solid speed and plus range and arm strength in right field. -
Santana opened 2010 as a 17-year-old in the South Atlantic League and struggled mightily against much older competition. He continued to pile up strikeouts after heading to the NY-P, but he also flashed the potential that caused the Phillies to sign him for $330,000 in 2008. "He's had his moments, and he's struggled as well at times," Truby said. "For a kid who just turned 18, he shows you that power to the opposite field. He's not really a pull hitter. He's been facing these college guys who've had four years of college, and he's a kid. He's learning, getting better, a young, power guy that's exciting." Santana will have to improve his contact rate in order to tap into his above-average raw power. Breaking balls eat him up, and though he occasionally shows the ability to turn on fastballs inside, he doesn't do so consistently. He's an average runner with a slightly above-average arm, but he must improve his reads, jumps and routes in right field. -
Though he was eligible to sign when he turned 16 in August 2008, Santana didn't turn pro until the Phillies landed him for a $330,000 bonus in March. His most obvious attribute is power, as he has raw strength and a huge 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame. He homered six times in 118 at-bats, and though he struck out 44 times, he cut down on his whiffs as the season progressed. "The ball comes off of his bat differently," Schneider said. "We've seen him hit some absolute bombs." Santana's other plus tool is his arm, which fits nicely in right field. He's still learning the nuances of outfield defense, and he'll probably be a below-average runner once he fills out.
Scouting Reports
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Background: Santana seems like he has been around forever, but he was just 16 when he made his U.S. debut in 2009. He started 2011 as an 18-year old in low Class A with the Phillies, who signed him out of the Dominican for $330,000, and stayed in the South Atlantic League after getting included in the Hunter Pence trade. Santana had 10 multi-hit games in his 17 starts for Lexington. Scouting Report: Scouts acknowledge Santana's raw hitting approach and most think he'll always have his share of strikeouts. If he makes consistent contact, though, he could become a prototypical right fielder in the Jermaine Dye mold. Santana's combination of tremendous leverage and excellent bat speed creates monstrous raw power. He needs at-bats to see more pitches, learn to identify them and manage the strike zone better. He's an average runner, though not a basestealer, and has a plus arm. He speaks English well, which has helped with his adjustment to pro ball. The Future: The Astros envision an outfield of the future with J.D. Martinez in left, George Springer in center and Santana in right by the time they become competitive. If Santana cuts down on his strikeouts, he could move rapidly. He has a chance to put up sick numbers in Lancaster in 2012.
