Sergio Santos
Encyclopedia
Sergio Jose Santos is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Chicago White Sox
.
in Santa Ana, California
by the Arizona Diamondbacks
in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Between 2002 and , Santos steadily worked his way up through the Diamondbacks' farm system all the way to Triple-A Tucson
, where he hit 21 doubles
and 12 home run
s in 2005.
On December 27, 2005, Santos was sent to Toronto
along with Troy Glaus
in exchange for Miguel Batista
and Orlando Hudson
. In , he hit .214 with 5 home runs and 38 RBI
in 128 games with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. He attended the Blue Jays' spring training
, but did not make the active 25-man roster. After his struggles at Triple-A Syracuse in 2006, Toronto assigned Santos to their Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
for the 2007 season. Santos won the Home Run Derby preceding the Eastern League All Star game in 2007 at Norwich's Dodd Stadium.
On May 13, 2008, Santos was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, but on March 20, 2009, was traded to the San Francisco Giants
in exchange for future considerations. Less than two weeks after the trade he was brought back to the Chicago White Sox
organization and sent to extended spring training to convert from infielder to pitcher.
and ending at Triple-A Charlotte Knights
. He posted a combined ERA of 8.16, but struck out more than a batter an inning.
On March 30, 2010, Santos was named to the White Sox opening day active roster. He won the 7th and final spot in the bullpen over Greg Aquino
.
Santos' high 90's mph fastball
and nasty slider
are his primary weapons, but he also throws a changeup
and curve ball. Santos earned his first major league win by pitching two innings of shutout baseball, striking out two in an 11 inning win over the Detroit Tigers
on August 5, 2010.
He established a new Major League record with his 25th straight scoreless appearance on the road to start a season in a 6–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles
at Camden Yards
on August 11, 2011. Mariano Rivera
had previously held the record since 2005
. Santos' achievement was actually part of a longer such streak of 30 which began in the previous campaign.
He went by the handle "Mr. Wizard".
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...
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...
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...
.
Draft and career as a shortstop
Santos, who is of Mexican American descent, was drafted out of Mater Dei High SchoolMater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. With an enrollment of 2,100 students Mater Dei High School is one of the largest Catholic high schools in the United States...
in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Between 2002 and , Santos steadily worked his way up through the Diamondbacks' farm system all the way to Triple-A Tucson
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, where he hit 21 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 12 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...
s in 2005.
On December 27, 2005, Santos was sent to Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
along with Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
in exchange for Miguel Batista
Miguel Batista
Miguel Descartes Batista Jerez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, St...
and Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
. In , he hit .214 with 5 home runs and 38 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 128 games with Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. He attended the Blue Jays' 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...
, but did not make the active 25-man roster. After his struggles at Triple-A Syracuse in 2006, Toronto assigned Santos to their Double-A affiliate, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....
for the 2007 season. Santos won the Home Run Derby preceding the Eastern League All Star game in 2007 at Norwich's Dodd Stadium.
On May 13, 2008, Santos was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, but on March 20, 2009, was traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in exchange for future considerations. Less than two weeks after the trade he was brought back to 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...
organization and sent to extended spring training to convert from infielder to pitcher.
Pitching Career
Santos has pitched at four levels of the Sox minor league system in 2009, beginning at the Single-A Kannapolis IntimidatorsKannapolis Intimidators
The Kannapolis Intimidators are a minor league baseball team in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The team is a Class Low-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and has played in the South Atlantic League under various names and team affiliations since its inception in 1995.-Team history:The Intimidators...
and ending at Triple-A Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
. He posted a combined ERA of 8.16, but struck out more than a batter an inning.
On March 30, 2010, Santos was named to the White Sox opening day active roster. He won the 7th and final spot in the bullpen over Greg Aquino
Greg Aquino
Gregori Emilio Aquino Valera is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the Chicago White Sox organization.Aquino was originally signed as a 16-year-old infielder in , by the Arizona Diamondbacks....
.
Santos' high 90's mph fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and nasty slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
are his primary weapons, but he also throws a changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
and curve ball. Santos earned his first major league win by pitching two innings of shutout baseball, striking out two in an 11 inning win over the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on August 5, 2010.
He established a new Major League record with his 25th straight scoreless appearance on the road to start a season in a 6–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles
2011 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles' 2011 season was the 111th season in franchise history, and the 58th in Baltimore.-Offseason:The 2010-2011 offseason has been notable for the Orioles, featuring a complete makeover of their infield, with only Brian Roberts expected to reprise his starting role...
at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
on August 11, 2011. Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...
had previously held the record since 2005
2005 Major League Baseball season
Click on any series score to link to that series' page.Higher seed had home field advantage during Division Series and League Championship Series.The American League champion had home field advantage during the World Series as a result of the AL victory in the 2005 All-Star...
. Santos' achievement was actually part of a longer such streak of 30 which began in the previous campaign.
Personal
Santos was part of a dance crew in middle and high school. His specialty was the windmill.He went by the handle "Mr. Wizard".