Lou Santangelo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #23 prospect in 2008
  Santangelo didn't do his career any favors when he got busted for using performance-enhancing drugs last May. The Astros already considered J.R.Towles a superior catching prospect, but Santangelo's 50-game suspension enabled Towles to take his job in Double-A and move up once Santangelo returned. Houston believes Santangelo has learned his lesson, but didn't bother to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, where he drew some interest but ultimately wasn't selected. He does two things well: hit for power and throw. He has as much raw power as anyone in the system and can drive balls out to dead-center. However, he doesn't make full use of his pop because he's not a very good hitter. Teams will pitch around his power and give him some walks, but he's mostly a dead-fastball hitter with little patience. He doesn't work counts or recognize pitches well, and he also gets too pull-happy. Fully recovered from a labrum tear in 2005, Santangelo has plus arm strength and threw out 30 percent of basestealers last year. He can get lazy behind the plate, though, which limits his ability as a receiver and blocker. He doesn't project as more than a backup, but his power and arm could make him a useful reserve. He figures to return to Double-A to open the season.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #18 prospect in 2007
  Few Astros farmhands can hit a fastball farther than Santangelo, but he's still seeking offensive consistency after three years in pro ball. He never managed to hit .300 with metal bats in college at Seton Hall and Clemson, and he matched his career average by hitting .241 in high Class A last year as a 23-year-old. Santangelo doesn't recognize offspeed and breaking pitches well, so they give him fits and he has trouble making contact. Nevertheless, he has averaged a homer for every 20 pro at-bats and tantalized Houston with a three-homer game on July 22. That he's also a catcher makes Santangelo all the more intriguing. Fully recovered from a labrum tear that truncated his 2005 season, he has a strong arm and threw out 42 percent of basestealers last year. His receiving skills aren't as advanced, but he did move better behind the plate in 2006 than he had in the past. He's a below-average runner but not bad for a backstop. Santangelo will advance to Double-A this year and could have a future as a platoon catcher in the majors.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #21 prospect in 2006
  Santangelo has a pair of outstanding tools with his raw power and arm strength, but he's still learning how to get the most out of them. He can hit the ball farther than any Houston farmhand except for Luke Scott, but Santangelo tends to do most of his damage against mistakes hung over the plate. He doesn't recognize breaking balls well and has struggled to hit for average or make contact dating back to his college days at Clemson and Seton Hall. He never topped .300 with metal bats. He has shortened his swing as a pro, but the same problems persist. Even though he had a tear in his labrum that cost him six weeks in the second half and forced him to share time with J.R. Towles in the second half, Santangelo threw out 43 percent of basestealers in 2005. He has a quick release and good accuracy to go with his strong arm, and he'd be even better if he got into a better position to throw. He's a lazy receiver who doesn't shift his body to get in front of balls. He works hard, but he also takes his natural gifts for granted at times. He has below-average speed but runs well for a catcher. His shoulder didn't require surgery and isn't expected to give him problems in the future. He could jump to Double-A depending on how much the Astros decide to spread out their catching talent, but Santangelo would be best off by starting 2006 in high Class A.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #18 prospect in 2005
  Pitchers grabbed 20 of the 30 spots on this list a year ago, and Houston addressed its need for position prospects in the 2004 draft, spending its first five picks on hitters who made the top 30: Hunter Pence, Jordan Parraz, Santangelo, Mitch Einertson and Ben Zobrist. While Einertson tied the Appalachian League record for homers, one Astros scout says Santangelo has more raw power. The difference between the two is that Santangelo does more of his damage against fastballs out over the plate or mistake breaking balls, while Einertson handles himself better against quality pitches. The key for Santangelo is making consistent contact. A hitch in his swing prevented him from topping .300 with aluminum bats at Seton Hall and Clemson. Though he shortened his stroke after turning pro, he was overmatched by breaking balls, in part because his pitch recognition is lacking. Santangelo won't need to hit for a high average to be a valuable catcher with his power and defense, but a .201 average in the New York-Penn League won't cut it. He's a below-average runner but runs well for a catcher. His defensive skills are nearly as good as those of Hector Gimenez. Santangelo has a strong and accurate arm, finishing second among NY-P regulars by throwing out 36 percent of basestealers. He'll begin his first full season in Class A, perhaps at Lexington in order to get his bat going.