Rafael Santana
Encyclopedia
Rafael Francisco Santana de la Cruz (born January 31, 1958) is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
who won a World Series
ring with the 1986 New York Mets
. He currently serves as the Dominican Republic
scouting and player development supervisor for the Chicago White Sox
.
as an amateur free agent in , Santana spent several years in their farm system before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
on February 16, for a player to be named later. The Cardinals sent pitcher
George Frazier to the Yankees in June to complete the deal.
Santana made the Cardinals out of spring training
in , making his major league debut on April 5 at third base in the season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. In 30 games, Santana had only three hits
in fourteen at-bats for a .214 batting average to go along with two runs batted in.
. During the 1984 season, he played 51 games for the Mets, hitting a career-best .271 with a home run
and 12 RBIs as the primary back-up for starting shortstop Jose Oquendo
.
Oquendo was traded with Mark J. Davis to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ángel Salazar and John Young during the offseason, making Santana the regular Mets shortstop for . He responded with a .257 batting average
and a .965 fielding percentage
for the squad that finished with 98 wins, and three games behind the Cards in the National League East
.
During the regular season, he batted just .218 with a home run and 28 RBIs, however, batting eighth in the order, he also led the squad with twelve intentional walks (Mets pitchers batted only .123 for the season). Santana started all 13 games for the Mets during the post-season, and established an NLCS record for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances accepted (31) by a shortstop in a six-game series against the Houston Astros
.
After the campaign where he set career-highs in home runs (5) and RBIs (44) with the Mets, Santana was traded to the cross-town Yankees with Victor Garcia for Steve Frey
, Phil Lombardi
and Darren Reed. He hit .240 with four home runs and 38 RBIs for managers Billy Martin
and Lou Piniella
in . After missing the entire season with an elbow injury, Santana was released on November 7 of that year.
, where he played 7 games and was reunited with 1986 Mets teammates Keith Hernandez
, Jesse Orosco
, and Stan Jefferson
. After being released on April 25 of that year, he retired from the big leagues at the age of 32.
of the Dominican Winter League from through . His first coaching job in the United States
was also in 1992, with the Kansas City Royals
' Florida State League
affiliate, the Baseball City Royals
(located in Davenport, Florida
). He spent four seasons in the Royals' organization, also coaching with the Carolina League
's Wilmington Blue Rocks
, the Northwest League
's Eugene Emeralds
and the Midwest League
's Springfield Sultans.
After this, Santana worked three seasons in the Boston Red Sox
organization, overseeing the Red Sox Dominican program in and as a roving infield instructor and hitting coach with the Class A New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners
in and before moving on to the White Sox. He spent four seasons as the ChiSox's minor league infield instructor before being promoted to the major league club in the same capacity while also serving as their first base coach for and . Santana returned to his previous position as roving infield instructor in . On January 1, , Rafael Santana was named manager of the Winston-Salem Warthogs
, his first managerial job in the United States. The following season, Santana took over the Birmingham Barons
from Chris Cron
. He currently serves as the Dominican Republic scouting and player development supervisor for the White Sox.
in Flushing, New York, which took place prior to that night's game between the Mets and the Colorado Rockies
.
Santana and his wife, Gloria, live in Cape Coral, Florida
, and have three children: Audry, Alexander, and Dhayan. Alexander is a junior third baseman
at Mariner High School
in the Cape.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who won a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
ring with the 1986 New York Mets
1986 New York Mets season
The 1986 New York Mets season was the Mets' 25th season in the National League. They began the season looking to equal or improve upon their 98–64 record from 1985 and to try to win the National League East Division. They finished the season with a 108–54 record, cruising to the division title...
. He currently serves as the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
scouting and player development supervisor for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
St. Louis Cardinals
Originally signed by the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as an amateur free agent in , Santana spent several years in their farm system before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on February 16, for a player to be named later. The Cardinals sent pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
George Frazier to the Yankees in June to complete the deal.
Santana made the Cardinals out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , making his major league debut on April 5 at third base in the season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. In 30 games, Santana had only three hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in fourteen at-bats for a .214 batting average to go along with two runs batted in.
New York, New York
Santana was released by the Cardinals on January 17, , and signed that same day with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. During the 1984 season, he played 51 games for the Mets, hitting a career-best .271 with a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 12 RBIs as the primary back-up for starting shortstop Jose Oquendo
José Oquendo
José Manuel Roberto Guillermo Oquendo Contreras is a former Major League Baseball infielder and the current third base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
.
Oquendo was traded with Mark J. Davis to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ángel Salazar and John Young during the offseason, making Santana the regular Mets shortstop for . He responded with a .257 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and a .965 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
for the squad that finished with 98 wins, and three games behind the Cards in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
.
During the regular season, he batted just .218 with a home run and 28 RBIs, however, batting eighth in the order, he also led the squad with twelve intentional walks (Mets pitchers batted only .123 for the season). Santana started all 13 games for the Mets during the post-season, and established an NLCS record for most putouts (13), assists (18) and chances accepted (31) by a shortstop in a six-game series against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
After the campaign where he set career-highs in home runs (5) and RBIs (44) with the Mets, Santana was traded to the cross-town Yankees with Victor Garcia for Steve Frey
Steve Frey
Steven Francis Frey is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He attended William Tennent High School in Warminster, Pennsylvania, and played three seasons of college ball at Bucks County Community College before being drafted by the New York Yankees in the fifteenth round of the 1983 Major...
, Phil Lombardi
Phil Lombardi
Phillip Arden Lombardi is a former professional baseball player. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, between and , for the New York Yankees and New York Mets...
and Darren Reed. He hit .240 with four home runs and 38 RBIs for managers Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
and Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
in . After missing the entire season with an elbow injury, Santana was released on November 7 of that year.
Cleveland Indians
In January 1990, Santana signed with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, where he played 7 games and was reunited with 1986 Mets teammates Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez
Keith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
, Jesse Orosco
Jesse Orosco
Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
, and Stan Jefferson
Stan Jefferson
Stanley Jefferson is a former center and left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds from to ....
. After being released on April 25 of that year, he retired from the big leagues at the age of 32.
Coaching career
After his playing career, Santana made a seamless foray into coaching. He started by managing Azucareros del EsteAzucareros del Este
The Toros del Este are a baseball team in the Dominican Winter League established in . Based in the eastern city of La Romana, the Toros have reached four championship series in their history, winning the title in and 2011....
of the Dominican Winter League from through . His first coaching job in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was also in 1992, with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
' Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
affiliate, the Baseball City Royals
Baseball City Royals
The Baseball City Royals was a farm team for the Kansas City Royals from 1988-1992.The Baseball City Royals joined the Florida State League in 1988...
(located in Davenport, Florida
Davenport, Florida
Davenport is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,994. While the city of Davenport itself is very small, the area north of the city close to Interstate 4 and US 27 is...
). He spent four seasons in the Royals' organization, also coaching with the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
's Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
, the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
's Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
and the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
's Springfield Sultans.
After this, Santana worked three seasons in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization, overseeing the Red Sox Dominican program in and as a roving infield instructor and hitting coach with the Class A New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners
Lowell Spinners
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
in and before moving on to the White Sox. He spent four seasons as the ChiSox's minor league infield instructor before being promoted to the major league club in the same capacity while also serving as their first base coach for and . Santana returned to his previous position as roving infield instructor in . On January 1, , Rafael Santana was named manager of the Winston-Salem Warthogs
Winston-Salem Warthogs
The Winston-Salem Dash is a minor league baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997...
, his first managerial job in the United States. The following season, Santana took over the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
from Chris Cron
Chris Cron
Christopher John Cron was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He is the cousin of Major League Baseball player Chad Moeller....
. He currently serves as the Dominican Republic scouting and player development supervisor for the White Sox.
Personal life
He is a member of the Mets Alumni Association and along with past Mets players, still makes personal appearances on behalf of the team. On August 19, 2006, Santana attended a 20th Anniversary Reunion of the 1986 Mets World Series Championship Team at Shea StadiumShea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
in Flushing, New York, which took place prior to that night's game between the Mets and the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Santana and his wife, Gloria, live in Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral is a municipality located in Lee County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1957 and developed as a master-planned, pre-platted community, the city grew to a population of 154,305 by the year 2010. With an area of , Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and...
, and have three children: Audry, Alexander, and Dhayan. Alexander is a junior third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
at Mariner High School
Mariner High School (Cape Coral, Florida)
Mariner High School is located in Cape Coral, Florida in the Lee County School District and is home to the Mariner Fightin' Tritons. The school is located at 701 Chiquita Blvd. N. in Northern Cape Coral, Florida. The school's students come mainly from Cape Coral, the neighboring villages on Pine...
in the Cape.