Sandy Santos

SANDY SANTOS, CENTER FIELDER
Born: April 20, 1994
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 185
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: Int’l Free Agent, 2012, Pittsburgh Pirates
How Acquired: International Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Santos didn’t sign until he was 18.  He’s a toolsy player with good speed and some power potential, and he’s willing to take a walk, but he swings and misses a lot.  He has enough speed to play center, but ultimately might be better in a corner as he doesn’t have good instincts.

2013
DSL:  205/251/275, 171 AB, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 11 BB, 47 K, 6-9 SB

Santos struggled in his first season, including poor plate discipline.  He played nearly all his games in right field.

2014
DSL:  262/378/348, 187 AB, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 21 BB, 41 K, 15-21 SB

Santos improved in his second season, raising his plate discipline to decent by DSL standards.  He still didn’t show a lot of power.  Santos shared the centerfield job with Victor Fernandez.

2015
R+:  257/338/466, 191 AB, 11 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 24 BB, 55 K, 7-11 SB

As they often do with older prospects coming from the DSL, the Pirates skipped Santos over the GCL.  He instead was the starting centerfielder Bristol.  He hit for good power, albeit with a very high K rate.  His walk rate at least was good.

2016
A-:  281/336/412, 228 AB, 16 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 20 BB, 64 K, 7-17 SB

Santos was the regular center fielder for Morgantown.  He got off to a fast start, with an OPS of 1.020 in 11 June games, then slumped to .600 in July before rebounding to .775 in August.  His BB:K ratio improved over the course of the season, from eight walks and 36 strikeouts in June and July to 12 walks and 28 strikeouts in August and September, in almost exactly the same number of plate appearances during each period.  Overall, his walk rate dropped from previous years and his power was more for doubles than HRs.  He had a mild reverse platoon split and didn’t fare well as a base stealer.

2017
A-:  231/281/388, 147 AB, 6 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 10 BB, 42 K, 3-5 SB
A:  181/301/319, 116 AB, 4 2B, 4 HR, 17 BB, 55 K, 7-11 SB

Santos opened the season as the center fielder in West Virginia, but he struggled at the plate, striking out in half his ABs.  In June, the Pirates sent him to Morgantown, where he split his time between all three outfield positions.  He didn’t hit as well there as he had the year before, including a higher K rate.

Santos took a step backward in 2017.  With a lot of outfield talent moving up from the short season teams, it’s not easy to see how he’ll fit in next season.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2018: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2013
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2019
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
July 1, 2012: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.