Hector Santiago, Pitcher


Date of Birth: 12/16/1987
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey
College: Okaloosa-Walton College

Hector Santiago, pitcher, was first drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2006. He pitched in their minor league system from 2007 through part of 2012, first joining the White Sox in 2011 for two games.

Santiago was originally a relief pitcher for the White Sox. In 2012, he pitched 70.1 innings in 42 games. He finished the season with a 3.33 ERA, a 4-1 record, and 4 saves. The next year, he pitched 149.0 innings in 34 games. He finished the 2013 season with a 4-9 record and a 3.56 ERA.

Santiago was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in December, 2013. In his first season as a starting pitcher with the Angels, he pitched 127.1 innings in 30 games. He finished the 2014 season with a 3.75 ERA and a 6-9 record.

In 2015, Santiago pitched in 33 games with the Angels. He finished the season with a 9-9 record, 162 strikeouts to 71 walks, and a 3.59 ERA in 180.2 innings.

Santiago signed a new one-year, $5 million contract with the Angels on January 8, 2016. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins on August 1, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with a 4.70 ERA in 22 games with the Angels and 11 games with the Twins. He had 13 wins to 10 losses and 144 strikeouts to 79 walks in 182.0 innings.

Santiago finished the 2017 season with 4 wins and 8 losses, 51 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a 5.63 ERA in 70.1 innings in 15 games. He didn't pitch in the Wild Card game.

Santiago became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He returned to his first team, the White Sox, on a minor league contract on February 14, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 6 wins and 3 losses, 103 strikeouts to 60 walks, and a 4.41 ERA in 102.0 innings in 49 games.

Santiago elected free agency on October 29, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on January 8, 2019. The Mets designated him for assignment on June 15, 2019, and three days later, he elected free agency. He signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on June 20th. He spent most of the 2019 season in the minors, playing in just 8 games with the Mets and 11 games with the White Sox.

Santiago became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on January 21, 2020. He was released on July 21, 2020. He played in the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Caribbean Series in 2020.

Santiago was assigned to the Seattle Mariners on May 5, 2021. He pitched in 13 games and he had a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings.

Santiago became a free agent on November 3, 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Santiago through 2021 include:

  • 270 games played
  • 947.0 innings pitched
  • 48-51 win-loss record
  • 856 strikeouts to 440 walks
  • 4.12 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Hector Santiago
ESPN - Hector Santiago