Ervin Santana, Pitcher
Date of Birth: 12/12/1982
Birthplace: San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Ervin Santana, pitcher for, started his professional baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels in 2000. He played in their minor league system from 2001 through 2004.
In 2005, Santana pitched 133.2 innings in 23 games with the Angels. He had a 12-8 win-loss record with a 4.65 ERA. Three years later, in 2008, he had a career high 214 strikes (to 47 walks).
Santana had perhaps his best season in 2011. On July 27, 2011, he pitched a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. He finished the season with career highs in innings pitched (228.2) and games played (33). He had a 3.38 ERA with an 11-12 record and 178 strikeouts to 72 walks.
The Angels traded Santana to the Kansas City Royals in October, 2012. In 2013, he pitched 211.0 innings in 32 games and finished with a career low ERA of 3.24 and a 9-10 record.
Santana became a free agent after the 2013 season ended and in March, 2014, he signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. He finished the 2014 season with a 14-10 record, 179 strikeouts to 63 walks, and a 3.95 ERA in 196.0 innings in 31 games.
Santana signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the Minnesota Twins on December 12, 2014.
On April 3, 2015, Santana was suspended for 80 days for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. He finished the 2015 season with a 7-5 record, 82 strikeouts to 36 walks, and a 4.00 ERA in 108.0 innings in 17 games.
Santana finished the 2016 season with a 3.38 ERA, 7 wins to 11 losses, and 149 strikeouts to 53 walks in 181.1 innings in 30 games.
Santana had a 3.28 ERA in 33 games in 2017. He finished the season with 16 wins and 8 losses and 167 strikeouts to 61 walks in 211.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 2.0 innings in the Wild Card game and he gave up 3 hits, including 2 home runs and 4 runs and he walked 2 batters and struck out none.
Santana spent most of the 2018 season on the DL, pitching in just five games with the Twins.
Santana became a free agent on October 31, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on February 23, 2019. He was designated for assignment on April 26th. Three days later, he elected free agency. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on May 24, 2019. He spent most of the 2019 season in the minors, playing in just 3 games with the White Sox.
Santana became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He didn't play professional baseball in 2020.
Santana signed a minor league contract with the Royals on December 29, 2020. He pitched in 38 games in 2021, and he had 2 wins and 2 losses, 52 strikeouts to 22 walks, and a 4.68 ERA in 65.1 innings. He also played in the Dominican Winter League in 2021.
Santana became a free agent on November 3, 2021.
Career pitching statistics for Santana through 2021 include:
- 425 games played
- 2,486.2 innings pitched
- 151-129 win-loss record
- 1,978 strikeouts to 776 walks
- 4.11 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ervin Santana
ESPN - Ervin Santana