Winston Santos

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #9 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Mild
  
  Adjusted Grade: 35
  
  Track Record: The Rangers signed Santos in 2019 out of the Dominican Republic, but they had to wait until the sport returned from the pandemic shutdown to get their eyes on him in an official game. Once things resumed, the righthander showed one of the system’s more interesting pitch mixes. He broke out during an outstanding 2024 season that included a berth in the Futures Game—played at the Rangers’ home ballpark—but was limited by a lingering back injury to just 35.2 frames in 2025 between the regular season and Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: As ever, Santos’ profile is driven by his magnificent fastball/changeup combo. The former pitch reached 97 mph during the regular season and touched a couple of ticks hotter in shorter bursts in the AFL. It also showed an average of nearly 18 inches of induced vertical break during the regular season. The righthander’s changeup flashes plus in the mid-to-upper 80s and shows fade and bottom at its best. Those two pitches would give him a chance to be a multi-inning reliever. If he can figure out a consistent breaking ball, he could find a way into a rotation. He’s working with a fringy, short-breaking version of a slider thrown around 84 mph. At its very best, the pitch has sharp gyro break down and in toward the feet of lefthanders. More often than not, it backs up on him and hangs in the middle of the zone. Santos has the potential for above-average control with perhaps average command. He’s done a good job filling up the zone at each of his stops.
  
  The Future: If Santos can find a breaking ball that plays at least average, he’ll have a chance to be a back-end starter. If not, he could use his fastball and changeup to overwhelm hitters for multiple innings out of the bullpen. With a full offseason of rest, he could reach the big leagues in 2026.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #5 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
  
  Track Record: Santos signed with the Rangers in 2019 but didn’t make his pro debut until 2021 after the pandemic canceled the 2020 minor league season. When he got on the mound for the first time, it was in the Dominican Summer League for one start before moving stateside for the remainder of his debut season. He advanced a level a year for the next two seasons, during which time he showed an intriguing fastball and changeup but no breaking pitch to tie the mix together. Once that changed, his stock soared.
  
  Scouting Report: Santos’ upswing rests almost entirely on the maturation of his breaking ball. The pitcher and team worked for years to find a pitch and a grip that worked, and the winning combination was a gyro slider which showed the most consistent break yet. Armed with a full complement of weapons, Santos gained helium. He roughed up hitters at High-A Hickory in 2024, including a five-inning, 12-strikeout masterpiece against Greensboro on April 19. He was bitten by the homer bug upon moving to Double-A, but his rates of strikeouts, walks and hits allowed were nearly identical at both stops. None of Santos’ pitches projects as plus, but his control reaches those heights and should amplify his mix and its overall effectiveness. One of Santos’ final hurdles is to improve the quality of those strikes and keep his fastball off the heart of the plate. Four of the nine home runs he allowed in Double-A came on pitches down the heart of the plate, while another three were at least belt-high.
  
  The Future: Santos needs further refinement, which he’ll get in 2025 in a return to the upper levels. If he can pair the quality of his strikes with their quantity, he has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter. If not, he might fit better as a bulk reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 60.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  August Update: Santos was signed by the Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 2019 and started turning heads during the most recent spring training. The righthander’s signature pitch is a low-90s fastball with excellent cutting life and added deception through his delivery. His best offspeed pitch is a mid-80s changeup, and the Rangers are working to help him better spin his sweepy slider. Though there&#39s plenty of development remaining, outside scouts are intrigued by Santos and believe further refinement of his offspeed pitches could help him find his way to the big leagues.