Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
Signed out of the Dominican Republic as a shortstop for $170,000 in 2013, Santana moved to the mound after hitting .198/.312/.256 in his pro debut. He has made rapid progress since posting a 6.42 ERA in his U.S. debut in 2015, passing several more hyped Dodgers pitching prospects to make his big league debut last June. After beating the Rockies while getting knocked around in relief, he went on the disabled list with a strained rotator cuff and missed the rest of 2018.
Santana has plenty of velocity on his fastball, working at 93-95 mph and reaching 98, though it's even more notable for nasty sink that keeps it off barrels and creates a lot of groundouts. His hard slider can be a wipeout pitch at times and keeps right-handers at bay, though it's not as consistent as his fastball and sometimes looks more like a curveball. He has made progress with developing his changeup and had more success against left-handers last year than in the past.
Santana sometimes struggles to command his pitches because he has so much life on his fastball and utilizes a crossfire delivery. He does throw enough strikes for Los Angeles and most scouts to project him as a starter, with one organization rating him as the system's best prospect at the outset of 2019. If he winds up in the bullpen, he has the stuff to serve as a setup man or perhaps even a closer. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2018 70 13 0 0.0 84.2 7.8 .390 .483 .431 .416 .507 30.8 21.1 5.3 2019 104 15 0 0.0 86.4 6.5 .243 .357 .413 .358 .365 26.7 22.2 14.8 ALL 174 28 0 0.0 85.4 7.1 .309 .413 .420 .381 .428 28.6 21.7 10.9 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 10/10/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Dennis Santana. 10/03/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers reassigned RHP Dennis Santana to the minor leagues. 09/30/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Dennis Santana from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 05/07/2019 Oklahoma City Dodgers activated RHP Dennis Santana from the 7-day injured list. 04/26/2019 Oklahoma City Dodgers placed RHP Dennis Santana on the 7-day injured list. 04/14/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Dennis Santana to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 04/07/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Dennis Santana from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 03/11/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Dennis Santana to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 11/02/2018 Dennis Santana roster status changed by Los Angeles Dodgers. 09/07/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Dennis Santana on a rehab assignment to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. 06/09/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers transferred RHP Dennis Santana from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right rotator cuff strain. 06/08/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Dennis Santana on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to June 5, 2018. Right rotator cuff strain. 05/30/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Dennis Santana from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 05/18/2018 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Oklahoma City Dodgers from Tulsa Drillers. 04/02/2018 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Tulsa Drillers from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 03/11/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Dennis Santana to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 11/20/2017 Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of Dennis Santana from Tulsa Drillers. 07/20/2017 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Tulsa Drillers from Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. 05/27/2017 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes activated RHP Dennis Santana from the 7-day disabled list. 05/18/2017 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes placed RHP Dennis Santana on the 7-day disabled list. 04/05/2017 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from Great Lakes Loons. 05/30/2016 Great Lakes Loons activated RHP Dennis Santana from the 7-day disabled list. 05/21/2016 Great Lakes Loons placed RHP Dennis Santana on the 7-day disabled list. 04/03/2016 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Great Lakes Loons from AZL Dodgers. 07/22/2015 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to AZL Dodgers from Ogden Raptors. 05/27/2015 RHP Dennis Santana assigned to Ogden Raptors from DSL Dodgers.
