Tony Santillan

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #9 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: After a slow but steady progression through the Reds’ farm system, Santillan battled through a shoulder injury in 2019 at Double-A Chattanooga and saw his stuff and control take a step back. He looked more like his old self in 2020 at the alternate training site and put himself back on the radar as an option for the Reds in the coming years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan is a bit of a slow starter every season but generally rounds himself into form. At his best, Santillan’s fastball works effectively in the low 90s and touches 97-98 mph with late, vertical life to get swings and misses. Santillan’s 84-88 mph slider has solid bite and projects as a plus pitch to give him an effective secondary, but he lacks a third option. His 87-90 mph changeup is well below-average because it lacks deception and flattens out too often. Santillan has some effort in his delivery, leading to stretches of below-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan’s most likely future is as a two-pitch power reliever whose fastball and slider plays up in shorter stints. The Reds will give him a chance to see if he can improve his changeup and control at Triple-A and remain a potential starter.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The 49th overall pick in 2015, Santillan experienced a breakthrough 2018 but fought shoulder issues and a strained triceps tendon throughout 2019, landing on the injured list three times. When he was healthy, Santillan walked nearly a batter every other inning in the first half of the season with Double-A Chattanooga and struggled to find the strike zone consistently even during an improved second half.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan works from a delivery that has some effort. He can run his fastball up to 96 mph, but he works more effectively in the low 90s. While his command has shown improvement at times, he lacks the ability to land his secondary offerings with any consistency, which has contributed to high walk totals throughout his career. Santillan's slider is a future plus pitch in terms of pure quality in the low-to-mid 80s with a good spin rate. His changeup is developing and grades as a potential average pitch, although it is a touch firm. He has also played around with a curveball, which helped him process and better develop the break on his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan's stuff is that of a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation starter, but his control may ultimately push him to the bullpen. He may need a third straight season at Double-A in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Santillan geared down his fastball in 2018 and the decision yielded excellent results. He nearly halved his walk rate to 2.3 per nine innings in 2018, showing significantly improved control with little degradation in the quality of his stuff. Santillan has also proved durable. After throwing 128 innings in 2017, he tossed 149 more in 2018.
  
  Scouting Report: Santillan has a big, athletic body and attacks hitters with an approach that is all about power--even his changeup is hard. There’s some effort to his delivery, but Santillan maintains his stuff for six to seven innings and throws strikes, projecting to have average control if not average command. His plus-plus fastball sits 94-98 mph with late life. It can be a heavy fastball that is difficult for hitters to square. He works off his fastball with a future plus slider that has good plane and tight break, though it morphs into a cutter at times. While his firm 85-88 mph changeup lags behind the other two offerings, he does show some feel for it and throws it with deception and fade.
  
  The Future: Santillan has put in the work to better control his front side. That improved control is important for him to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #6 prospect in 2018
  Even as a prep pitcher in Texas, Santillan looked like he would fit in with the Reds' recent infatuation with physical pitchers such as Sal Romano, Rookie Davis and Nick Travieso. In high school, he had a big fastball to go with a big body. Though he struggled in his first go-round in the Midwest League, he comported himself much better in 2017, ranking third in opponent average (.222), fourth in strikeouts (128) and fifth in ERA (3.38). Santillan has long had a near-top-of-the-scale fastball, but he refined his 88-91 mph changeup to be a potentially plus offering in 2017. His 90-91 mph slider is a work in progress that flashes plus with good tilt and depth, though he has shown little consistency with any of his pitches. His delivery has little deception, but he throws 96-98 mph with movement. He's not consistent with his delivery yet, which is why his velocity will vary pretty dramatically as he'll follow up a 92 mph fastball with a 100 mph one, and it's not always intentional. He pitches from the stretch at all times, which simplifies what he has to work on. His delivery is very uptempo and energetic and he's a fast worker. His ability to start depends on developing even fringe-average control. Right now Santillan's control and stuff varies widely, but at his best, he can dominate. With his talent, Santillan could move quickly if he can improve the consistency of his delivery and control. He will begin 2018 at high Class A Daytona, but he could continue climbing and reach Double-A Pensacola.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #11 prospect in 2017
  Santillan is the classic young power arm, more thrower than pitcher at this stage. He fires a fastball up to 100 mph as a starter, which means he doesn't often have to deal with the subtler aspects of pitching because few can square up his heat. Therefore, his effectiveness wavers from start to start. When Santillan is direct to the plate, he dominates. In a pair of late-season starts at low Class A Dayton in 2016 he struck out 10 and allowed just four baserunners. When he spins off toward first base at the end of his delivery, however, he loses the strike zone and his slider loses its depth. As a young pitcher, Santillan doesn't yet diagnose his own delivery flaws promptly and usually requires visits from the dugout. He has the raw ingredients to succeed, including two pitches that could grade as 70s on the 20-80 scouting scale. Santillan's fastball is overpowering. He sits 95-98 mph, and his 84-87 mph slider also could be a plus pitch or better because of its power and depth. He mixes in a fringy changeup that is making strides. Listed at 240 pounds, Santillan is a thick-bodied pitcher, but that masks athleticism that should help him make adjustments. He will return to Dayton in 2017, but the sky is the limit if he keeps his delivery under control.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #13 prospect in 2016
  Santillan had pitched his way onto scouts' must-see lists before the World Wood Bat Championship in fall 2014, but he almost pitched his way back off of those lists. After a strong first inning of work, his delivery and his control fell apart in the second inning as more and more golf carts filled with scouts drifted away. Santillan reassured scouts with a solid senior year in 2015, after which the Reds signed him for $1.35 million. He has more athleticism than his thick frame would seem to indicate--he was set to be a two-way player at Texas Tech. Santillan flashes a plus breaking ball, but he doesn't command it yet. It's an 80-85 mph pitch that has power. It has downer curveball action at times and at other times has the late tilt of a plus slider. Santillan's fastball is a double-plus pitch at its best because he touches 98 mph and sits 94-95. He can reach premium velocities without excessive effort, but he too often overthrows and spins off the mound. Santillan slipped fielding a ball, dislocated a finger and missed instructional league. He has the rough outline of a mid-rotation starter, but he's a long way from that ceiling. Scouts see his current delivery as more suited for a relief role. The Reds probably will send him to Rookie-level Billings in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #100 prospect in 2015 draft
  Santillian wasn't seen much on the showcase circuit last summer, but he did appear in Jupiter last fall at the World Wood Bat event. There he showed excellent velocity (91-94 mph) from a relatively easy delivery at his best, and fell apart attempting to throw the ball all over the place from the stretch at his worst. Teams that have stayed on him this spring have seen that the velocity has gotten even better (93-95 touching 98), and he does it relatively easily, although his control remains well below-average. His secondary stuff isn't very consistent yet, but Santillian has flashed a slider with promise to become a swing-and-miss weapon and upper-70s power. He is a solid athlete at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds who is a potential two-way player if he makes it to Texas Tech. That's unlikely as some team will take a chance on a power arm and hope they can refine his delivery and repertoire with plenty of work and time.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #14 prospect in 2018
  It's been a slow climb for Santillan, who made it to high Class A in 2018 in his third full season as a pro. The breakout he experienced, however, showed the industry his full potential. He finished in the top five in the Reds' system in ERA, strikeouts and wins, and made it to Double-A in the second half. Every time he takes the mound, Santillan brings the hard stuff. He uses a high-effort delivery to blow hitters away with a mid-90s fastball that can touch 97-98. He couples his fastball with a high 80s swing-and-miss slider and a firm changeup in the same range that has made some strides over the past year. The main concerns surrounding Santillan involve his lack of finesse in both his arsenal and his delivery. Nothing he throws is particularly soft, and his delivery is a little bit stiff at times.
• 
  Ranked Southern League #6 prospect in 2018
  Extreme velocity paired with poor control once marked Santillan as a possible relief candidate. He began to shed those concerns with a breakout 2018 season he split between high Class A Daytona and Pensacola. He recorded a 3.08 ERA in 26 starts with rates of 8.1 strikeouts and (a career best) 2.3 walks per nine innings. Everything Santillan throws is hard, and he operates with three plus or better pitches at times, particularly now that he can find the strike zone and work ahead of batters. He sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph with a heavy, double-plus fastball that runs to his arm side. He throws a slider with short tilt but high velocity that peaks near 90 mph. Santillan has made significant strides with his firm high-80s changeup that fades to his arm side. He earns praise for his makeup, loose arm and ability to hold baserunners—he allowed just two stolen base attempts in 11 starts.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #6 prospect in 2016
  Scouting reports early in Santillan's career pegged him as a fireballer more likely suited as a reliever because of command issues and lack of a third pitch. He started showing more refinement in extended spring training and continued his improvement in the PL. Santillan's biggest jump came in commanding his overpowering fastball that touches 100 mph and sits 95-98. He has a good feel for a plus 84-86 mph slider with good depth. He is starting to repeat his delivery and firm 85-87 mph changeup as well. He struggled with command after his promotion to low Class A, though, so he still has significant work to do to remain a starter. ""He's got big league stuff already,"" Billings manager Ray Martinez said. "(He's) a very competitive guy, which will take him a long way."
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #17 prospect in 2015
  Santillan as an amateur was noted for his electric fastball but acute command issues, a description that also sums up his pro debut. The 2015 second-rounder signed for $1.35 million, and he kept his ERA under 3.00 through his first seven outings before a disastrous one-inning stint in his last start, which came on a rainy night after a bout with an eye infection. Santillan already has two plus pitches. He throws a fastball that sits 95 mph and tops out at 98, and he backs it with command of an 85 mph slider with late, hard tilt. The big-bodied, 240-pound righthander has a strong arm, and some observers peg him as a future power reliever. Santillan's delivery features a lot of moving parts, and he still is developing a useable changeup, but the Reds believe he can stay in the rotation. "He's a great competitor," Reds manager Ray Martinez said, "and likes to play."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #69 prospect in 2019

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: After a slow but steady progression through the Reds' farm system, Santillan battled through a shoulder injury in 2019 at Double-A Chattanooga and saw his stuff and control take a step back. He looked more like his old self in 2020 at the alternate training site and put himself back on the radar as an option for the Reds in the coming years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan is a bit of a slow starter every season but generally rounds himself into form. At his best, Santillan's fastball works effectively in the low 90s and touches 97-98 mph with late, vertical life to get swings and misses. Santillan's 84-88 mph slider has solid bite and projects as a plus pitch to give him an effective secondary, but he lacks a third option. His 87-90 mph changeup is well below-average because it lacks deception and flattens out too often. Santillan has some effort in his delivery, leading to stretches of below-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan's most likely future is as a two-pitch power reliever whose fastball and slider plays up in shorter stints. The Reds will give him a chance to see if he can improve his changeup and control at Triple-A and remain a potential starter.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: After a slow but steady progression through the Reds’ farm system, Santillan battled through a shoulder injury in 2019 at Double-A Chattanooga and saw his stuff and control take a step back. He looked more like his old self in 2020 at the alternate training site and put himself back on the radar as an option for the Reds in the coming years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan is a bit of a slow starter every season but generally rounds himself into form. At his best, Santillan’s fastball works effectively in the low 90s and touches 97-98 mph with late, vertical life to get swings and misses. Santillan’s 84-88 mph slider has solid bite and projects as a plus pitch to give him an effective secondary, but he lacks a third option. His 87-90 mph changeup is well below-average because it lacks deception and flattens out too often. Santillan has some effort in his delivery, leading to stretches of below-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan’s most likely future is as a two-pitch power reliever whose fastball and slider plays up in shorter stints. The Reds will give him a chance to see if he can improve his changeup and control at Triple-A and remain a potential starter.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: After a slow but steady progression through the Reds’ farm system, Santillan battled through a shoulder injury in 2019 at Double-A Chattanooga and saw his stuff and control take a step back. He looked more like his old self in 2020 at the alternate training site and put himself back on the radar as an option for the Reds in the coming years.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan is a bit of a slow starter every season but generally rounds himself into form. At his best, Santillan’s fastball works effectively in the low 90s and touches 97-98 mph with late, vertical life to get swings and misses. Santillan’s 84-88 mph slider has solid bite and projects as a plus pitch to give him an effective secondary, but he lacks a third option. His 87-90 mph changeup is well below-average because it lacks deception and flattens out too often. Santillan has some effort in his delivery, leading to stretches of below-average control.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan’s most likely future is as a two-pitch power reliever whose fastball and slider plays up in shorter stints. The Reds will give him a chance to see if he can improve his changeup and control at Triple-A and remain a potential starter.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The 49th overall pick in 2015, Santillan experienced a breakthrough 2018 but fought shoulder issues and a strained triceps tendon throughout 2019, landing on the injured list three times. When he was healthy, Santillan walked nearly a batter every other inning in the first half of the season with Double-A Chattanooga and struggled to find the strike zone consistently even during an improved second half.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan works from a delivery that has some effort. He can run his fastball up to 96 mph, but he works more effectively in the low 90s. While his command has shown improvement at times, he lacks the ability to land his secondary offerings with any consistency, which has contributed to high walk totals throughout his career. Santillan’s slider is a future plus pitch in terms of pure quality in the low-to-mid 80s with a good spin rate. His changeup is developing and grades as a potential average pitch, although it is a touch firm. He has also played around with a curveball, which helped him process and better develop the break on his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan’s stuff is that of a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation starter, but his control may ultimately push him to the bullpen. He may need a third straight season at Double-A in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The 49th overall pick in 2015, Santillan experienced a breakthrough 2018 but fought shoulder issues and a strained triceps tendon throughout 2019, landing on the injured list three times. When he was healthy, Santillan walked nearly a batter every other inning in the first half of the season with Double-A Chattanooga and struggled to find the strike zone consistently even during an improved second half.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Santillan works from a delivery that has some effort. He can run his fastball up to 96 mph, but he works more effectively in the low 90s. While his command has shown improvement at times, he lacks the ability to land his secondary offerings with any consistency, which has contributed to high walk totals throughout his career. Santillan's slider is a future plus pitch in terms of pure quality in the low-to-mid 80s with a good spin rate. His changeup is developing and grades as a potential average pitch, although it is a touch firm. He has also played around with a curveball, which helped him process and better develop the break on his slider.
  
  THE FUTURE: Santillan's stuff is that of a mid-to-back-of-the-rotation starter, but his control may ultimately push him to the bullpen. He may need a third straight season at Double-A in 2020.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Santillan is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound power righthander who throws everything hard. With a 94-98 mph fastball and a slider and changeup that sit in the upper 80s, Santillan’s biggest issue may be a lack of velocity separation between his fastball and offspeed pitches. Still, the 21-year-old has dropped his walk rate to a career-low 6.1 percent in 2018 and performed well enough to earn a promotion to Double-A Pensacola on July 5. Having his strikeout rate tick back up his career norm of 25 percent, plus continued refinement of his offspeed pitches, is what Santillan needs to continue his trek toward Cincinnati.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Even as a prep pitcher in Texas, Santillan looked like he would fit in with the Reds' recent infatuation with physical pitchers such as Sal Romano, Rookie Davis and Nick Travieso. Even in high school, he had a big fastball to go with a big body. Though he struggled in his first go-round in the Midwest League, he comported himself much better in 2017, ranking third in opponent average (.222), fourth in strikeouts (128) and fifth in ERA (3.38). Scouting Report: Santillan has long had a near-top-of-the-scale fastball, but he refined his 88-91 mph changeup a potentially plus offering in 2017. His 90-91 mph slider is a work in process that flashes plus with good tilt and depth, though he has shown little consistency with any of his pitches. His delivery has little deception, but he throws 96-98 mph with movement. His ability to start depends on developing even fringe-average control. Right now Santillan's control and stuff varies widly from start to start, but at his best, he can dominate. The Future: With his talent, Santillan could move quickly. He will begin 2018 at high Class A Daytona, but he could continue climbing and reach Double-A Pensacola.