Carlos Santana, Infield, Pittsburgh Pirates


Date of Birth: 4/8/1986
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Carlos Santana, infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was first signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005 but he only played in the minor leagues while with them. In July, 2008, they traded him to the Cleveland Indians. Santana made his first appearance as a catcher with the Indians in June, 2010. He was injured that August and ended up playing in just 46 games with the Indians that season.

In 2011, his first full season in the major leagues, Santana batted .239 with 132 hits, 35 doubles, 27 home runs, and 79 RBIs in 155 games. He caught 95 of those games. The following April, Santana and the Indians agreed to a five-year, $21 million contract with a club option for 2016. In 2012, he was the team's catcher in 100 games and a first baseman in 21 games.

Santana had a strong 2013 season. He played in 154 games and he had 145 hits, 39 doubles, 20 home runs, and a .268 batting average. He played at first base in 29 games and as catcher in 84 games. He finished the 2014 season with 125 hits, 25 doubles, 27 home runs, 85 RBIs, and a .231 batting average. He led the AL in walks with 113.

Santana finished the 2015 season with a .231 batting average, 127 hits, 29 doubles, 19 home runs, and 85 RBIs in 154 games. As a first baseman, he made 77 assists, 110 double plays, 1,061 putouts, and 3 errors in 132 games. He had a .997 fielding percentage.

Santana had a strong 2016 season, with career highs in hits (151), home runs (34), and RBIs (87). He batted .259 with 31 doubles in 158 games. He walked as many times as he struck out (99). In the postseason, he batted just .192 with 10 hits, including a double and 3 home runs, in 52 at-bats in 15 games. Defensively, during the regular season, he played 64 games at first base and he made 53 assists, 48 double plays, 513 putouts, and 5 errors.

The Indians exercised their club option for Santana for 2017 on November 3, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with 148 hits, 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, 94 strikeouts to 88 walks, and a .259 batting average in 154 games. Defensively, as the Indians' first baseman in 140 games, he made 95 assists, 129 double plays, 1,055 putouts, and 5 errors. In the postseason, he batted .211 with 4 hits, 4 RBIs, and 4 strikeouts and 3 walks in 19 at-bats in 5 games. He hit a home run in game four of the AL Division Series.

Santana elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on December 20, 2017. He finished the 2018 season with 128 hits, 28 doubles, 24 home runs, 86 RBIs, 93 strikeouts to 110 walks, and a .229 batting average. Defensively, as the Phillies' first baseman in 149 games, he made 76 assists, 114 double plays, 1,167 putouts, and 10 errors.

Santana was traded to the Seattle Mariners on December 3, 2018. Ten days later, he was traded to the Indians. He finished the 2019 season with 161 hits, 30 doubles, 34 home runs, 93 RBIs, 108 strikeouts to 108 walks, and a .281 batting average in 158 games. He won his first Silver Slugger award in 2019. Defensively, as the Indians' first baseman in 135 games, he made 73 assists, 77 double plays, 951 putouts, and 10 errors, and he had a .990 fielding percentage.

Santana played in 60 games in 2020. He finished the season with 41 hits, 7 doubles, 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, 43 strikeouts to 47 walks, and a .199 batting average. He led the AL in walks in 2020. Defensively, he played all 60 games at first base. In the postseason he had no hits in 8 at-bats in 2 games.

Santana became a free agent on October 30, 2020. He signed with the Kansas City Royals on December 8th. He finished the 2021 season with 121 hits, 15 doubles, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, 102 strikeouts to 86 walks, and a .214 batting average in 158 games. Defensively, as a first baseman, he made 50 assists, 117 double plays, 1,001 putouts, and 7 errors in 136 games.

Santana was traded to the Mariners on June 27, 2022.

Santana became a free agent on November 6, 2022. He signed a minor league contract with the Pirates on November 29th.

Career batting statistics for Santana through 2021 include:

  • 1,653 games played
  • 1,446 hits
  • 316 doubles
  • 259 home runs
  • 865 RBIs
  • 1,158 strikeouts to 1,077 walks
  • .245 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Santana at first base through 2021 include:

  • 1,026 games played
  • 589 assists
  • 803 double plays
  • 7,970 putouts
  • 56 errors
  • .993 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Carlos Santana
ESPN - Carlos Santana