Trying to turn the power back on
Santana hasn’t gotten going at the plate yet
The Milwaukee Brewers are hoping that, just like the weather, Domingo Santana will begin heating up soon.
More than two months into the season, the rightfielder has yet to really get going at the plate after breaking out in 2017.
In 55 games, Santana is hitting .254 to go along with an on-base percentage of .322 and an OPS of .683. Through 55 games a season ago, he was hitting .274 with an on-base percentage of .364 and an OPS of .848.
The most glaring difference, though, has been the lack of power and run production. Santana has just three home runs and 17 runs batted in compared to 10 and 32 at the same time last year.
"Domingo hasn’t quite had his hot streak yet," manager Craig Counsell said. "He’s been kind of in the battle mode most of the year. He’s hit the ball hard – just hard on the ground. Obviously, the home run is a big part of his game, and power has always been something he’s provided as an offensive player.
"But there’s still hard contact in there, and I think that difference is
very small. He’s obviously a player capable of a lot offensively, and you don’t think he’s that far away.
"So he’s going to keep getting chances."
Santana went on last season to hit .278 with 30 homers and 85 RBI – all career highs – as he helped anchor a Brewers offense that also boasted two other 30-homer players in Travis Shaw (31) and Eric Thames (31).
It was a performance that would figure to have solidified Santana's status as a player to continue building around.
But because of his impending arbitration status (he becomes eligible heading into 2019) and defensive shortcomings (below average in the metrics), there were rumblings in the off-season that the Brewers were aggressively shopping Santana as potential trade bait for pitching help.
Then in late January, the team unexpectedly added the 1-2 outfield punch of Christian Yelich via trade and Lorenzo Cain via a five-year, $80 million freeagent deal. With Ryan Braun and Santana still in the picture and Keon Broxton and Brett Phillips also vying for spots, the Brewers suddenly had a glut of outfielders.
Both Counsell and general manager David Stearns acknowledged the situation but reiterated depth is never a bad thing – something that has already proven true with Yelich, Thames and Braun all having spent time on the disabled list.
To this point, Santana hasn't seen his playing time decreased much.
The 25-year-old has logged 177 atbats and 4031⁄3 innings in the field compared to 186 and 4211⁄3 at the same point last year.
But he admitted he's still feeling his way a little bit.
"I was expecting to do a lot better," Santana said. "At the end of the day, I don’t look at it like it’s too different from last year because I’m still getting atbats. But it’s definitely a little bit different."
Santana's lack of pop was especially glaring early in the season. He managed just one extra-base hit – a double – in his first 24 games and just three doubles overall for the first month of the season, leaving him with a paltry slugging percentage of just .269.
With three homers – none since May 21 – and 10 doubles overall, Santana's slugging percentage entering this weekend's series in Philadelphia stands at just .362; he finished at .505 last season.
What's stood out most, as Counsell noted, is the decrease in lift Santana has displayed with his swing.
According to Fangraphs.com, he's hitting ground balls 50.8% of the time and fly balls 26.3% of the time compared to 44.9% and 27.7% a year ago. But he's also making hard contact slightly more, 40.7% compared to 39.7%
The numbers also show Santana, a right-handed batter, is hitting the ball more to left and center field than he is to right compared to last season.
"The one thing Domingo’s continued to do is hit the ball hard," Counsell said. "There’s been balls hit very, very hard. It’s a little different for me. If anything, the balls we haven’t seen this year have been the balls to center field, right-center field, right field and in the air.
"Even his home runs this year have been pulled balls, and we’re kind of used to seeing Domingo hit that (visiting) bullpen or off the scoreboard at Miller Park. That’s kind of his signature home run that he just hasn’t gotten to this year yet.
"But he’s certainly capable of it and the fine line for him is trusting his swing, trusting it’s there and the effort with it."
Santana said that between his slow start and the fact he can't count on being in the lineup every day like he was last year, he's been putting too much pressure on himself to perform.
"Sometimes when you don’t see competition for a day or so, you tell yourself to try not to do too much," he said. "But at the same time, you see a good pitch and you might want to hit a homer or drive in a guy instead of just putting a really good, easy swing on it and putting it in play.
"That’s what’s different for me from last year – I’m trying to do too much."
With Thames nearing a return from the DL and Counsell intimating he could start seeing some time in the outfield as well once he's back, Counsell is going to have to be even more creative in order to find playing time for everyone.
In the meantime, Santana and the Brewers both are hoping he finally gets into a groove at the plate and rides it for a while.
"Once you step in that box, all that adrenaline, you just want a good at-bat and to do something to help your team," Santana said. "You’ve got to go back to playing simple again."