Santana can feel new vibe
New 1B wowed by team’s talents
Carlos Santana’s introductory Zoom call had not yet started Tuesday when the newest Pirate showed how he intends to act as a veteran leader. As reporters’ screens populated, Santana flashed some smooth dance moves in the background.
“That’s who I am,” Santana said, with Pirates director of communications Melissa Rodriguez Strozza translating. “I’m just a really happy person, and I like to have a good time.
“I’mbig on dancing in the clubhouse and dancing in the dugout while getting ready for games.”
Pessimistic Pirates fans might grumble about how nobody should be dancing, laughing or smiling coming off three seasons while playing at a 100-loss pace. At the same time, a baseball season is excruciating, and MLB has not yet outlawed fun, only shifts.
The bigger storyline with Santana will be how quickly and seamlessly the 36-year-old — his one-year contract worth $6.725 million became official after a passed physical at PNC Park — integrates into a young Pirates clubhouse.
A.J. Burnett made it work with tattoos and intensity. Santana isn’t that way, but he’s also widely respected as a leader. Need recent evidence? Just look at what he did for the Mariners this past season.
“I have a lot of years of baseball under my belt,” said Santana, who has hit .242 with a .791 OPS and 278 home runs over 1,784 MLB games. “I’m looking forward to bringing that experience here. These young guys, there’s a lot of talent, a lot of potential.”
As far as signing with the
Pirates, Santana seemed to indicate that he was a little surprised — and certainly impressed — by how they conducted themselves during free agency. They “took charge,” and that was enough for him to seriously consider Pittsburgh.
Watching the young group from afar, Santana said he was impressed by the “tremendous talent” that exists here. Santana also said he saw a clear path to join Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz and contribute with both his offense and defense.
“I’ve heard nothing but really good things about this group,” Santana said. “Again, I’ll stress the tremendous potential and the talent that is here.
“I will try to help out in two ways. One, with my performance and the work that I put out. Also just hoping to be a role model and a good teammate. Not just on the field, but being a good person off the field around them, as well.”
It’s easy to appreciate what Santana has done from an offensive standpoint.
He ranks first among all active switch hitters in home runs, RBIs (925) and on-base percentage (.359). That home run total is also 12th among switch-hitters in MLB history.
With his glove, Santana hasposted a fielding percentage of .994 (58 errors in 9,240 total chances) in 1,102 games at first base. That included a .997 fielding percentage in 76 games split between with Kansas City and Seattle last season, with Santana making just two errors in 625 total chances across 655 1/3 innings.
“I take a lot of pride in my work and how I prepare defensively,” Santana said. “I look forward to getting to know [teammates’] movements, how they throw and if I have to make any adjustments.”
Seems there might be one of those with the rocketarmed Cruz, who’s in the 97th percentile of Baseball Savant’s arm strength grades.
“I may need to go out and find a new glove because [of] Oneil’s arm,” Santana said. “Looks like he can throw with a bit of strength.”
Other players who have caught Santana’s eye include Rodolfo Castro and Hayes. His new teammates likely have the same admiration for him, and Santana on Day 1 expectedly had a bunch of positive stuff to say about his new employer.
“I really think the Pirates have such a bright future ahead with those two guys,” Santana said, talking specifically about Cruz and Hayes.
“I’m so glad to hear nothing but good things about Derek from everyone I talk to,” Santana added about Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who was actually Santana’s hitting coach during his first big-league camp in Cleveland.
Shelton aside, it was another Cleveland tie that may transitively affect this young group and what sort of leader Santana will become with them.
Victor Martinez, who spent the first half of his 16year MLB career on the banks Lake Erie, had a big influence on Santana, and it’s actually why he wears No. 41.