Anthony Santander

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #8 prospect in 2018
  The Orioles knew the risk in selecting Santander in the Rule 5 draft from the Indians after offseason shoulder surgery, but they were intrigued by his 2016 at high Class A Lynchburg, where he hit .290/.368/.494 with 20 home runs and 42 doubles. However, elbow issues emerged while he rehabbed in spring training, and Baltimore shut him down to ensure that he was fully healthy before they began their Rule 5 evaluation. Santander didn't join the Orioles until mid-August, when he played sparingly, hitting .267 in 30 at-bats. A switch-hitter with fluid hands and above-average power from both sides, Santander has drawn Victor Martinez comparisons. He is a below-average runner with a fringe-average arm who needs experience to be a fringe-average corner outfielder, meaning his bat will have to carry him should he continue as a corner outfielder. However, that's a possibility, especially because of his traditional uppercut lefthanded swing that he's shown in the minors. Because he spent just 46 days in the majors, Santander needs to accrue 44 more days in 2018 for the Orioles to keep his rights under the Rule 5 stipulations. If they accomplish that, the 23-year-old could benefit from his first substantial time in Double-A, where the Orioles hope he'll develop into a solid-average regular.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #9 prospect in 2017
  The Indians aggressively promoted Santander early in his career by sending him to the Rookie-level Arizona League for his pro debut in 2012 and low Class A Lake County as an 18-year-old the next season. He handled the assignments well but was then slowed by injuries, including an elbow injury that cost him time in both 2013 and 2014. Santander stayed healthy in 2016 and excelled at the plate at high Class A Lynchburg. He had surgery on his right shoulder after the season, so Cleveland decided to risk leaving him exposed to the Rule 5 draft, where the Orioles selected him with their second pick. Santander stands out for his offensive ability as a physical switch-hitter with feel for the barrel and good bat speed. That translates into above-average power, and his .494 slugging percentage ranked second among all qualified Indians minor leaguers in 2016. Defensively, Santander has primarily been a left fielder since returning from his elbow injury, and he also saw action at first base in 2016. His fringy speed and arm strength limit his impact defensively, but his bat gives him a chance to profile at a corner. Santander would have advanced to Double-A in the Indians system, so he'll be making a three-level jump to Baltimore as a 22-year-old if he can stick.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #20 prospect in 2014
  Santander landed one of the Indians' largest international signing bonuses in 2011 at $385,000. The team wasn't surprised by his early-season struggles in 2013 in the cold weather of the low Class A Midwest League, a tough assignment for the 18-year-old, and his bat had started coming around before a right elbow injury cut his season short. Santander's body type and swing draw comparisons with current Indians outfielder Michael Brantley. He has similar raw power as well but should have a better chance to get to it in games. He does show some feel for hitting, along with quiet hands at the plate and a naturally powerful stroke, giving him the potential for average raw power. Santander didn't take up switch-hitting until about a year before he turned pro, and his lefthanded swing looks further ahead than his righty swing. He's played on an outfield corner exclusively as a pro. He's a decent athlete and his slightly above-average arm gives him a shot to stick in right field. Santander has a chance to earn a spot on high Class A Carolina's roster, but he most likely will open 2014 back in the MWL, where he'd still be young for the level as a 19-year-old.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #13 prospect in 2013
  After signing Santander for $385,000 out of Venezuela, the Indians pushed him to the Arizona League for his 2012 pro debut and he didn't disappoint with his performance. He began switch-hitting just about a year before he signed, so his strong showing was even more surprising given that the natural righthander faced predominantly righty pitching in the AZL. He doesn't have a pure stroke from either side, but it works for him and he has curbed his tendency to overswing and try to do too much. With broad shoulders and a strong lower half, Santander has average raw power that could become plus as he matures physically. His speed and arm are average, so he's best suited for an outfield corner. He spent most of his debut playing left field, where he still needs to improve his reads and routes. He has a chance to start 2013 in low Class A as an 18-year-old.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #16 prospect in 2016
  Santander combined with league MVP Bradley to give Lynchburg a fearsome middle-of-the lineup combination. He finished sixth in the league in hitting, third in home runs and RBIs and first with 42 doubles. He stayed healthy the entire season for the first time and broke out offensively, earning 70 grades for his raw power on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. "He's a switch-hitting outfielder who showed power from both sides," Carolina manager Rocket Wheeler said. "If there was a guy on third, he was going to get the run in." Managers also said Santander showed decent speed and athleticism, but he'll need to work to stay in left field, where he is below-average. He played nine games at first base as well.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Orioles knew the risk in selecting Santander in the Rule 5 draft from the Indians after offseason shoulder surgery, but his standout 2016 for High-A Lynchburg, where he hit .290/.368/.494 with 20 home runs and 42 doubles, intrigued them. However, elbow issues emerged while he rehabbed in spring training, and the team shut him down to ensure that he was fully healthy before they began their Rule 5 evaluation. Santander didn't join the major league team until mid-August, when he played sparingly, hitting .267 in 30 at-bats. Scouting Report: A switch-hitter with fluid hands and above-average power from both sides, Santander has drawn Victor Martinez comparisons. Santander is a below-average runner with a fringe-average arm who needs experience to be a fringe-average corner outfielder, meaning his bat will have to carry him should he continue as a corner outfielder. However, that's possible, especially with the traditional uppercut lefthanded swing that he's shown in the minors. The Future: Because he spent only 46 days in the majors in 2017, he'll need to be there for the first 44 days of 2018 for the Orioles to keep his rights under the Rule 5 stipulations. If they accomplish that, the 23-year-old could benefit from his first substantial time in Double-A, where the Orioles hope he'll develop into a solid-average regular.