Talented Cubs Pitching Prospect Impresses in Arizona Fall League
Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Tyler Santana made his first start of the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday afternoon at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.
It was Santana's third appearance of the fall, having pitched in relief twice already.
He got off to a rocky start in the Fall League, allowing four earned runs off a home run, five hits and two walks during his first appearance on Oct. 4.
Since then, however, Santana has been highly effective.
In his second appearance, he tossed three scoreless no-hit innings in relief and allowed zero walks.
Wednesday, Santana took the mound as a starter, his first start of the fall for the Mesa Solar Sox.
The right hander went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, two walks and no runs, striking out two.
Since his first appearance, Santana has lowered his ERA from 15.43 to 4.00.
The Cubs' prospect pitched at Jacksonville University in college. After his senior year was wiped out due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, he was given an extra year of eligibility, which he used in 2021. Santana posted a 4.66 ERA and 1.236 WHIP across 15 starts and 100.1 IP in his final collegiate season.
In 2021, Major League Baseball shortened its Draft from 40 rounds to 20. After 20 rounds, Santana did not hear his name called.
A little over a week after the draft concluded, he signed a minor league contract with Chicago.
In his first full minor league season, Santana excelled at Single-A Myrtle Beach, where he logged an 11-1 record and a 2.28 ERA over 24 games and 98 2/3 innings pitched.
He struggled in 2023, clocking a 5.06 ERA and 1.390 WHIP in nine starts and 21 relief appearances.
Over Santana's last two Fall League appearances, the right-hander has allowed no runs, only three hits and two walks over 6 2/3 IP.
It looks like the 25-year-old is starting to find his groove.
While Santana pitched the first 3 2/3 innings of Wednesday's game, another Cubs' prospect, Chris Kachmar, finished the game.
He allowed two runs off two hits, one being a home run. He also struck out four and walked one batter.
Chicago infield prospect James Triantos led off the game for the Solar Sox, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk.
Triantos currently leads the Fall League in On Base Percentage (.588) and OPS (1.393).
