The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Hard-hitting Santana flashes defensive prowess CARLOS SANTANA ESSENTIALS
Carlos Santana didn’t spend much time in Columbus.
He was there for about 10 weeks in the spring of 2010, playing catcher for the Columbus Clippers, the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate.
In 57 games, the highly touted prospect obtained from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the July 2008 trade for Casey Blake batted a solid .316 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI, .447 on-base percentage and .597 slugging percentage.
Brief though his stay proved to be in Ohio’s capital, Santana made quite the impression on longtime Clippers media relations director and team historian Joe Santry. Santana also left a few marks on the facade of the outfield grandstands at Huntington Park, the team’s showcase of a ballpark in the Arena District.
Giving a visiting reporter a guided tour of the ballpark last year, Santry said Santana hit some of the longest and most majestic home runs he had seen in four decades of working for the team. He has watched Clippers games at Cooper Stadium and, since April 2009, Huntington Park.
Santana’s red-hot start in Columbus in 2010 earned him an early June promotion to the Indians, who were rebuilding and losing often in Manny Acta’s first season as manager. His bat has kept him in the big leagues since.
A switch-hitting fixture in the Indians’ everyday lineup starting in 2011, Santana has continued to hit for power (174 home runs) , production (586 RBI) and efficiency (365 on-base percentage) in seven-plus seasons with the Indians.
This season, going into the opener of a three-game home series against Minnesota on Sept. 26, he’s on or near his career number with a .259 average, 23 home runs, 78 RBI and .366 on-base percentage.
As has become custom, the bat of the 31-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has warmed with the weather. Since the All-Star break, he’s batting .289 and providing consistent pop out of the sixth position in manager Terry Francona’s order.
While his talent for putting the bat on the ball is established, it is Santana’s evolution on defense that brings considerable added value as the Indians close the regular season with a record-breaking flourish and align themselves for what they hope is another long run in the playoffs.
Santana was a third baseman who had even played some shortstop when he signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2004. He made the move to catcher while still in the Dodgers’ system, got to the big leagues at that position and remained there through the middle of the 2013 season, when the arrival of Yan Gomes — far the superior catcher defensively — altered the arc of Santana’s career. He opened the 2014 season as the starter at third base and finished it as the starting first baseman.
He was the starter again at first base throughout the 2015 season, playing 132 games with a .997 fielding percentage and only three charged errors in 1,141 chances. Francona installed veteran free-agent slugger Mike Napoli as the starter at first base in 2016. Santana was re-purposed as the full-time designated hitter and backup first baseman.
Santana is the full-time first baseman this season and turning in the best work of his career with the glove. His newfound prowess around the bag and strong, accurate arm have earned raves from Francona and his teammates, including shortstop Francisco Lindor.
The emergence of Santana at first base has solidified what over the course of the 2017 season has become one of the best defensive infields in the American and National leagues.
Lindor, an emerging star in his third season, last year was the Gold Glove and Platinum Glove winner in the American League. Injuries Position: Resides: Age: 31 Height, weight: First base Cleveland Career track: 5-11, 210 Contract status: Salary this season is $12 million in final year of a six-year, $31.8 million contract. Becomes a free agent after this season.
to starting second baseman Jason Kipnis this season forced the move of Jose Ramirez to second base from third base, where he was a Gold Glove candidate. Ramirez is even better at second base, his natural position. He and Lindor are the best middle-of-theinfield combo the Indians have had since Omar Vizquel and Robbie Alomar in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Rookie Yandy Diaz, an average fielder, is getting most of the starts at third base. Francona almost always brings in second-year man Giovanny Urshela as the late-inning defensive replacement at third. Urshela makes spectacular plays regularly. He is a glove man of the first order and has an improving bat. He will be on the 25-man playoff roster.
When it comes to that Indians playoff preview: The Indians have locked up the American League Central Division title for a second straight year. This series offers profiles of the players who will play key roles in the postseason.
roster, Francona has an interesting decision to make on Erik Gonzalez. The rookie infielder come up from Columbus and has played well in spot appearances at second base, third base and shortstop. The 26-year-old native of Puerto Rico also can play outfield, potentially giving him a chance to make the playoff roster.
There was a bit of a scare for the Indians vastly improved infield on Sept. 23 in a road game at Seattle. Santana pulled in a throw up the line by Urshela and had his right arm hyperextended in a collision with the Mariners baserunner.
Santana was down on the field for several minutes in obvious discomfort. He was allowed to stay in the game but was held out of the lineup the next day because of soreness in the arm. He’s due to be back in the series opener against the Twins.
After what everyone associated with the Indians hopes is another long run in the playoffs, Santana will become a free agent. He is sure to command some bigmoney offers. Then the Indians will have to decide whether they want to make another long-term investment in Santana or close the book on the veteran who now makes plays with his glove as well as his bat.