When the Twins claimed a shortstop off of waivers on this date in 2008, they probably wouldn’t have guessed that Sergio Santos would go on to become a closer for their division rivals. Yet that’s exactly what’s happened since Minnesota claimed Santos from the Blue Jays three years ago.
Santos, selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the D’Backs as a shortstop, arrived in the Toronto organization late in 2005, when the Blue Jays sent Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista to the D’Backs for Troy Glaus. The Twins then claimed Santos on May 16th, 2008, before he had ever pitched in a professional game. After Santos posted a .242/.279/.374 line in the minors, the Twins let the infielder go.
Later in the offseason the White Sox signed Santos and within months, he was on the move again. The White Sox traded Santos to San Francisco late in Spring Training on the condition that the Giants would find him an everyday job in Triple-A. Unable to provide Santos with a regular role, the Giants sent him back to Chicago less than two weeks later.
Once the 2009 season began, Santos began the transition to the mound, as Yahoo's Jef Passan explained last year. The right-hander posted an 8.16 ERA through 28 2/3 innings for four different White Sox affiliates and allowed 37 hits and 20 walks, while striking out 30.
By 2010, Santos had graduated to Chicago's 'pen. He posted a 2.96 ERA in 51 2/3 innings with 9.8 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 as a rookie. Armed with a 95 mph fastball, Santos has posted similar numbers through 19 frames this year. He has yet to allow an earned run and he has 10.4 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 as Ozzie Guillen’s most effective reliever – almost certainly not what the Twins were envisioning when they claimed the former shortstop off of waivers on this date in ’08.
That’s quite an interesting journey.
lets all ruin it now by having a baseless allegation conversation about him being on PEDs!
When have you ever seen a SS throw 95?
50 game suspension on the way !
It’s surprising that he’s become such a great pitcher. I love it that he’s been the bright spot the last two years for my White Sox. He’s a stud.
I guess he’s attractive but what does him being a stud have to do with baseball?
A tremendous example of why you can’t get too wrapped up in the ages of prospects. While we all love to watch the fast tracks of current stars like Miguel Cabrera and future stars like Bryce Harper, too often people want to cool prematurely on prospects that are still young men with whole careers in front of them.
The best thing about Sergio is that he personifies the American Dream. Persevering through the bad times in his career to now become a very capable (and soon to be very rich) relief pitcher.
Oh, and he was literally born on the Fourth of July…
WHERE ARE THE KENNY HATERS
I remember when he was in the Jays system, they talked about his potential as a pitcher because he threw 95 mph – so it was no surprise to see him make the transition. But to be in the position he is now, I don’t think anyone would’ve imagined that.