Omir Santos

Omir Santos Rios (born April 29, 1981) is a former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Mets, the Detroit Tigers, and the Cleveland Indians and is currently the manager of the Lake County Captains, the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

Omir Santos
Santos with the New York Mets
Catcher
Born: (1981-04-29) April 29, 1981
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 2008, for the Baltimore Orioles
Last MLB appearance
April 9, 2013, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average.248
Home runs7
Runs batted in41
Teams

Career

He attended East Central College in Union, Missouri. The New York Yankees drafted Santos in the 21st round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft,[1] but he made his major league debut in 2008 for the Baltimore Orioles.

Baltimore Orioles

On September 5, 2008, Santos was called up to the Orioles from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.[2] Santos played in 11 games and had 10 at-bats, recording one hit.[3] He caught nine total games, starting three.[3]

New York Mets

On January 20, 2009, Santos signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[4] On April 17, 2009, Santos was called up to the Mets to replace the injured Brian Schneider after starting the season with the AAA Buffalo Bisons.[5]

On April 27, 2009, Santos hit his first career home run, a grand slam off Florida Marlins pitcher Aníbal Sánchez. It was the first grand slam hit in Citi Field. The home run also produced his first career RBI.[6]

On May 23, 2009, Santos hit a two-run go-ahead home run off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon at Fenway Park in the ninth inning with two outs, which was the difference maker in the game.[7]

On May 29, 2009, against the Florida Marlins, he hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning and a game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th.[8] Soon after the game, the Mets traded their other backup catcher Ramón Castro to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Lance Broadway, ensuring that Santos stayed with the team as the backup catcher to Brian Schneider.[8]

On November 25, 2009, Santos was named on the 51st annual Topps All-Star Rookie team.[9] Santos finished the season with seven home runs, 40 runs batted in (RBI), 73 hits and a .260 average in 96 games.[3]

On February 20, 2010, the Mets signed catcher Rod Barajas to a Major League deal.[10] With Henry Blanco serving as the backup catcher, Santos began the season in the minor leagues.

On March 7, 2010, Santos hit an inside-the-park grand slam in spring training.[11]

On June 4, 2010, the Mets called up Santos to back up the backup catcher Henry Blanco who was a "bit banged up". He was optioned back to the minors on June 7.[12]

On November 10, 2010, Santos refused his minor league assignment and became a free agent.[13]

Detroit Tigers

During the 2010 MLB Winter Meetings, Santos signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[14] He was promoted to the Tigers on April 19 and was given number 18 to fill in for the injured Victor Martínez.[15] On April 19 against the Seattle Mariners, Santos recorded a pinch hit single.[16] The next day, he got the start at catcher, where he went 0-for-4 and caught nine innings.[17] Santos was recalled again in August to replace Miguel Cabrera who was attending the birth of his child.[18] The Tigers used Cabrera's paternity leave as an opportunity for Santos to catch a game in place of Alex Avila, who had started the previous 18 games.[18] Regular backup catcher Víctor Martínez had been limited to designated hitter due to injury.[18]

After being outrighted to Triple-A in 2011, Santos was given an invitation to spring training as a non-roster player.[19] He did not make the opening day roster, but was called up to the Tigers on May 30, 2012 after injuries to Alex Avila and Gerald Laird.[20] On June 2, 2012, Santos had a walk-off sacrifice fly to beat the New York Yankees.[21]

On June 6, 2012, Santos was designated for assignment.[22] On June 8, 2012, Santos declined the minor league assignment and became a free agent.[23]

Colorado Rockies

On June 13, 2012, Santos signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[24]

Cleveland Indians

On February 5, 2013, Santos signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.[25] Santos started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and was called up to the Indians on April 9, 2013.[26] He appeared in one game for the Indians before being optioned back to Columbus a week later.[27] On July 14, Santos was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Columbus.[28]

Santos declared free agency on October 3, 2013.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Santos signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 7, 2014.[29]

Washington Nationals

Santos signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals in 2015.[30] He was released on April 2, 2015.[3]

Second stint with Indians

On February 26, 2016, Santos signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians.[3]

Coaching career

Santos was named as the bench coach for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2019.[31] He was promoted to manager of the Dominican Summer League Indians 1 on January 24, 2020.[32]

References
  1. "21st Round of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  2. Fordin, Spencer (September 5, 2008). "O's make flurry of roster moves". Baltimore Orioles. MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  3. "Omir Santos Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. "Tom Martin and Casey Fossum among 10 non-roster invitees to Mets Major League Spring Training". New York Mets. MLB.com. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. Rubin, Adam (April 18, 2009). "Mets expect Pelfrey to miss his turn". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  6. Rubin, Adam (April 27, 2009). "Omir Santos slams Marlins as John Maine starts to roll in 7–1 win". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  7. Dicomo, Anthony (May 23, 2009). "Santos, Mets Stun Red Sox; Go-ahead Homer Followed by Brilliant Show of Defense". New York Mets. MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  8. "Mets clip Marlins with Santos' 11th-inning single". ESPN. Associated Press. May 29, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  9. Noble, Marty (November 25, 2009). "Santos makes Topps All-Star Rookie team". New York Mets. MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  10. "Barajas signs with Mets". Sports Illustrated. February 20, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  11. "Mets 6, Nationals 5". ESPN. Associated Press. March 7, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  12. DiComo, Anthony (June 6, 2010). "With Blanco on mend, Mets option Santos". New York Mets. MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  13. Baron, Michael (November 10, 2010). "Mike Hessman and Omir Santos Become Free Agents". Mets Blog. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  14. Mensching, Kurt (December 6, 2010). "Report: Tigers sign Omir Santos to minor league deal". Bless You Boys. SB Nation. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  15. Beck, Jason (April 19, 2011). "Tigers place V-Mart on 15-day disabled list". Detroit Tigers. MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  16. "Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 19, 2011". Baseball-Reference.com. April 19, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  17. "Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 20, 2011". Baseball-Reference.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  18. "Tigers recall Santos as Cabrera on paternity list". ESPN. Associated Press. August 25, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  19. Schmehl, James (November 30, 2011). "Detroit Tigers re-sign catcher Omir Santos to minor league deal". Michigan Live. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  20. "Tigers Purchase The Contract Of Catcher Omir Santos From Toledo". WWJ-TV. May 30, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  21. Schmehl, James (June 3, 2012). "Detroit Tigers' Omir Santos plays hero, erases costly errors with walk-off sacrifice fly". Michigan Live. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  22. Beck, Jason (June 6, 2012). "Tigers lose Avila to DL with hamstring issue". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  23. Iott, Chris (June 8, 2012). "Catcher Omir Santos declines assignment to Triple-A Toledo, becomes free agent". Michigan Live. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  24. Schmehl, James (June 13, 2012). "Former Detroit Tigers catcher Omir Santos signs minor-league deal with Colorado Rockies". Michigan Live. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  25. Jordan Bastian [@MLBastian] (February 5, 2013). "Indians have signed C Omir Santos to a Minor League contract with a spring invite. Gives Cleveland 6 catchers in camp" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. "Indians place Marson on DL". Yahoo! Sports. April 9, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  27. "Indians recall Blake Wood, send Omir Santos to AAA". Fox Sports. July 14, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  28. Massie, Jim (July 14, 2013). "Cleveland options Wood to Clippers; outrights Santos". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  29. "Omir Santos, Pirates agree to minor league deal". Sports Illustrated. CNN. Associated Press. February 7, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  30. Eddy, Matt (January 11, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8". Baseball America. Archived from the original on January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  31. "Scrappers Front Office And Coaching Staff - 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  32. Bell, Mandy (January 24, 2020). "Indians announce Minors coaching changes". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
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