A bargain $10,000 signing from the Dominican Republic in 2019, Santos made some mechanical adjustments after getting rocked in High-A in 2023. He took off the following year, leading the system in wins (11) and strikeouts (138 in 110 1/3), appearing in the Futures Game, reaching Double-A and grabbing a spot on the Rangers' 40-man roster. He made just two starts in Double-A in 2025 before a stress reaction in his back sidelined him for four months, though he returned for the end of the season and the Arizona Fall League.
Santos maintained a quality fastball during his rough 2025, sitting at 95-97 and touching 100 with impressive carry and armside run, though his secondary pitches regressed a bit. His tight mid-80s slider was merely an average offering rather than the plus weapon it was the season before. His slightly harder changeup tumbled at times but lacked consistency.
Santos isn't very physical and has never pitched more than 110 1/3 innings in a season, so he still needs to prove he can hold up as a starter. His athleticism helps his cause, as does his ability to provide reliable strikes from a low release height, though his control has backed up in 2026. If he can refine his fastball command and hone his slider and changeup, he could be a mid-rotation starter.
Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Santos had his pro debut delayed until 2021 by the pandemic but progressed nicely until getting tuned up for a 6.29 ERA at High-A in 2023. He made some mechanical adjustments at the end of that season that paid off with a breakout last year between that level and Double-A. He led the system in wins (11) and strikeouts (138 in 110 1/3 innings), pitched in the Futures Game and claimed a spot on the the Rangers' 40-man roster.
Santos' fastball added a couple of ticks of velocity in 2024, sitting at 94-96 mph and maxing out at 98 with natural cut and ride. He also tightened his mid-80s slider into a legitimate plus offering that he can throw by hitters in the zone or get them to chase. His mid-80s changeup isn't as reliable as his other two pitches, but it plummets at the plate when it's working right.
Santos is just 6 feet tall and lacks physicality, but he's athletic and provides plenty of strikes from a flat approach angle. He surrendered eight homers in 10 Double-A starts, mostly on heaters that he didn't locate high enough in the zone. Once he refines his fastball command and changeup consistency, he could be a mid-rotation starter. After making just two starts for Double-A Frisco this season, Santos landed on the IL in June due to a stress reaction in his back and is expected to be out indefinitely.
A $10,000 bargain from the Rangers' 2019 international class, Santos didn't make his pro debut until two years later because of the pandemic. The Dominican seemed poised for a breakout after having a strong 2022 season in Single-A and showing increased velocity the following spring, but he got rocked to the tune of a 6.29 ERA in High-A last year. He made some mechanical adjustments toward the end of 2023 that have paid off with a strong start this spring.
Santos' fastball already ranked among the best in the system when it sat at 92-95 mph in 2022, because he has natural cut and ride, a flat approach angle and command. Now it's parking in the mid-90s and touching 98, making it even more difficult for batters to handle. He also has tightened up his mid-80s slider and improved his ability to locate it, making it a solid offering.
Santos' mid-80s changeup earns similar grades and plummets at the plate when it's on. Though he's 6 feet tall and lacks physicality, he's athletic and provides consistent strikes, so he should be able to stick as a starter. He's quickly becoming one of Texas' top pitching prospects and could develop into a mid-rotation starter.
Signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, Santos initially drew little attention in a Rangers international class headlined by bonus babies Bayron Lora ($3.9 million) and Maximo Acosta ($1.65 million). The pandemic delayed Santos pro debut until 2021, but he stood out at Low-A Down East at age 20 last year, fashioning a 3.49 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 108 1/3 innings. His fastball velocity jumped this spring and he continues to make progress with his slider, though command issues have hampered his progress in High-A.
Even when it sat at 92-95 mph in 2022, Santos' heater already ranked among the best in the system because of its natural cutting action, his flat approach angle and his ability to command it. It could become a well above-average pitch if he can maintain the 95-98 mph velocity he displayed in Spring Training after spending the offseason at Texas' Arizona training base to build up strength. He has advanced feel for a mid-80s changeup that drops off the table when at its best.
Santos entered pro ball with a curveball but since has switched to a slider that's gaining consistency and shows flashes of becoming an effective mid-80s sweeper. At 6 feet tall, he's a bit on the small side for a starter, but he's athletic and throws strikes with all of his pitches. The next step will be to do a better job of locating his offerings where he wants in the strike zone.
How this works:
This section shows two different ways to evaluate pitch movement.
On the left, “Total Movement” shows the real-world movement of a pitch, including the forces of gravity, which affects every pitch thrown.
Since gravity requires time, and slower pitches aren't 'better' just because they have more time to move, a pitch's movement is compared to other pitches of the same pitch type, within +/- 2 MPH and +/- 0.5 feet of extension/release.
On the right, Induced Movement (or IVB) is reported without gravity, and attempts to isolate movement created by the pitcher's ability to spin and manipulate the ball.
These run values are leveraged, meaning the base/out situation at the time of the event does impact the run value (thus introducing context outside the batter's own contribution).
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's batted balls allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Season
Team
Avg HR Trot
Actual HR
xHR
HR-xHR
Doubters
Mostly Gone
No Doubters
No Doubter %
2026
27.69
1
1.0
0
0
0
1
100.0
Player
27.69
1
1.0
0
0
0
1
100.0
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's batted balls allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's batted balls allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Season
HR
2026
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Player
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's batted balls allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift:
three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of
their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about
how positioning is defined here
