| Dennis Santana | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Santana with the Mets in 2023 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 60 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-04-12)April 12, 1996 (age 28) San Pedro de Macorís,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 1, 2018, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 11–15 |
| Earned run average | 4.76 |
| Strikeouts | 209 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Dennis Anfernee Santana Sánchez (born April 12, 1996) is aDominican professionalbaseballpitcher for thePittsburgh Pirates ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theLos Angeles Dodgers,Texas Rangers,New York Mets, andNew York Yankees.
Santana signed with theLos Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in March 2013. He made his professional debut in 2014 with theDominican Summer League Dodgers and spent the whole season there, going 2–1 with a 1.05 ERA in twenty games. He pitched 2015 with theArizona League Dodgers andOgden Raptors, compiling a combined 2–5 record and 6.42 ERA in 13 games (11 starts), and 2016 with theGreat Lakes Loons, posting a 5–9 record and 3.07 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 111.1 innings.[1] He was aMidwest League All-Star with the Loons in 2016.[2]
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Santana started 2017 with theRancho Cucamonga Quakes and was promoted to theTulsa Drillers during the season.[3] With the two teams, he was 8–7 with a 4.11 ERA in 24 games (21 starts).[4] The Dodgers added him to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2017.[5] He began 2018 with Tulsa but was promoted to the Triple–AOklahoma City Dodgers in May. In his debut for them, he struck out 11 in six scoreless innings,[6] for which he was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week.[7]
Santana was called up to the majors by the Dodgers for the first time on May 30, 2018[8] and made his debut on June 1, picking up the win in relief, despite allowing five runs on six hits in 32⁄3 innings against theColorado Rockies. He also hit a two-RBI double in his first major league at-bat.[9] He was scheduled to make his first major league start on June 7 against thePittsburgh Pirates but suffered a right rotator cuff strain while warming up in the bullpen before the game and was placed on the disabled list, where he remained for the rest of the season.[10]
In 2019, he pitched five innings for the Dodgers, across three appearances, allowing four runs on six hits.[11] In 27 appearances for Oklahoma City (17 starts) he was 5–9 with a 6.94 ERA.[4]
Santana made 12 appearances for the Dodgers during thepandemic-shortened season of2020, with a 1–2 record and 5.29 ERA.[11]
After struggling to a 6.00 ERA in 16 appearances to begin the 2021 season, Santana was designated for assignment on June 12, 2021.[12]
On June 17, 2021, Santana was traded to theTexas Rangers in exchange for Kelvin Bautista and was assigned to the Triple-ARound Rock Express.[13] He appeared in 63 games for Texas, working to a 3–8 record and 5.22 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched.
On November 15, 2022, Santana was traded to theAtlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations.[14] On January 13, 2023, Santana signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Braves, avoiding salary arbitration.[15] On February 26, 2023, Santana was claimed off waivers by theMinnesota Twins.[16]
On March 17, 2023, Santana was claimed off waivers by theNew York Mets.[17] He made seven appearances for the Mets, struggling to a 7.04 ERA with five walks and 10 strikeouts in7+2⁄3 innings pitched. On April 14, Santana was designated for assignment afterJimmy Yacabonis was added to the roster.[18] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-ASyracuse Mets on April 18.[19] On May 14, Santana was selected back to the Mets' active roster.[20] After pitching a scoreless inning in a 3–2 loss against theWashington Nationals, Santana was designated for assignment the same day whenBrooks Raley was activated from the injured list.[21] On August 16, Santana was selected back to the major league roster.[22] He was designated for assignment for the third time on August 19.[23] Santana elected free agency on August 22.[24]
On December 6, 2023, Santana signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees that included an invitation to spring training.[25] He began the season with the Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 5 whenJonathan Loáisiga was placed on the 60-day injured list.[26] In 23 appearances for the Yankees, he struggled to a 6.26 ERA with 19 strikeouts across27+1⁄3 innings. The Yankees designated Santana for assignment on June 9.[27]
On June 11, 2024, Santana was claimed off waivers by thePittsburgh Pirates.[28]