Ervin Santana

2013

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2012

Santana won just 11 games last season, but he posted a career-best 3.38 ERA and struck out 178 batters in 228.2 innings. He'll be arguably the best fourth starter in the league in 2012 on a team that should score more runs than it did last season, so Santana could provide a nice return on his mid-round selection if his offense can get him a few more wins.

2011

Santana bounced back from a rough 2009 season to win a career-high 17 games for the Angels last season. None of his other stats were overly impressive, but the 28-year-old's peripherals were in line with his career norms. Santana is in the prime of his career; but while his numbers are more likely to improve than decline, don't expect him to reach the 214 strikeouts he recorded in 2008.

2010

A sore elbow and subsequent forearm pain prevented Santana from building on his breakthrough 2008 campaign, although he showed enough on his good nights – two shutouts, eight quality starts and 2.48 ERA in his last 11 starts – that you can still see a No. 2 starter in him. Talk up the 5.01 ERA, his crazy home/road splits and the missed time, then snag him late and be very, very happy.

2009

Santana transformed from a fringe starter in spring training into one of the Angels’ best starting pitchers by the end of the season. Santana went 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 2007 and helped ease the loss of Kelvim Escobar. Santana’s success last season can be attributed to one thing – his ability to pitch on the road. Santana, who had an 8.38 road ERA in 2007, posted a 3.02 ERA and won 11 games away from home last season. Now that he's taken the leap, we expect similar results in 2009.

2008

Santana’s home ERA: 3.37. Santana’s road ERA: a disastrous 8.38. No other pitcher in the league has home/away splits that resemble these numbers. Still, Santana possesses a high-90s fastball and a dynamite slider. He has obvious talent, but until he figures out how to pitch on the road, he won't have a permanent place in the Angels' starting rotation. Santana will battle Joe Saunders for the No. 5 starter's job this spring, with the loser likely heading to the bullpen. With uncertainty about his spot in the rotation and is inability to pitch in the road, you'll want to limit how much of an investment you make him on draft day. That said, his talent alone makes him an enticing late-round pick if he wins a spot in the Angels rotation.

2007

Santana is further along at age 23 than teammate John Lackey was, providing hope that he'll show the same improvement Lackey did after the same age. The dip in strikeout rate isn't a big deal because it was paired with improvement in command. More valuable with the Angels--with whom he gets 20 or more starts in pitchers' parks--than he'll be if he gets traded.

2006

Like rotation mate John Lackey, Santana picked things up considerably the second half of 2005. He went from a 6.20 ERA in the first half, to 9-4 with a 3.97 ERA in the second half. He'll only be 23 to start the season so look for continued improvement with decent upside.

2005

Santana missed time last season with tendonitis in his right elbow and shoulder. He's the top pitching prospect in the Angels farm system but the nagging arm injuries are a concern. He should be healthy by spring and the organization has high hopes for him. At 22, it's unlikely he'll rise above Triple-A until late in 2005.

2004

Santana went 11-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 26 starts between Double-A Arkansas and Single-A ball last season. He'll probably spend 2004 in Double-A, but may get a shot at Triple-A if he continues to excel. Anahiem's top starter prospect probably won't be a factor in the majors until 2005 at the earliest.

2003

Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2000, the now 20-year old has aged 10 months but remains a top power-pitching prospect. He’s begun filling out his 6’4” frame and now tops the scales at over 170 lbs. His fastball can touch the upper-nineties and he regularly works around the 94-95 mph range. He has a hard slider and good change up to compliment the heat, but both need refining. He’s able to command all three pitches, which bodes well for his future as a major league starter. The 2003 season should find him at High Class-A and if successful could wind up the season in Double-A. It’s probable his development won’t find him in the majors until some time in 2005, but the projection as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher is not unreasonable. Formerly Johan Q. Santana.