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Cincinnati Reds REVISED Top 10 Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. Antonio Santillan, RHP

Birthdate: 4/15/97 (19 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: rookie, low A
Stats in 2016: 69 1/3 IP, 5.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 13.25 BB%, 27.81 K%

My first thought when seeing Santillan this summer for Dayton was “holy cow, that is a large man!” The second thought was hearing that he’d just thrown 97 the previous pitch and thinking that there was no way he generated 97 miles per hour so easily.

He is all of that, and still a teenager! Santillan was drafted out of high school in Texas in the 2nd round in 2015, and he made a big impression on scouts this summer with his easy, heavy velocity.

he made a big impression on scouts this summer with his easy, heavy velocity

Santillan was a two-way player who still can handle the bat well when given the chance, but he does have his big heavy fastball that he gets on top of and gets late movement down in the zone when all is working right.

His primary off speed pitch is a hard curve that comes in at 83-86 MPH, a premium velocity for a curve ball. The snap he gets on the pitch is simply ridiculous, but it’s also the pitch he has the most difficulty with when he gets off in his delivery.

While he is a big man, Santillan is a fairly good athlete on the mound, and sometimes that comes to bite him. He tends to step a bit to the third base side as he strides toward home and throw across his body. When he can keep that just a tiny bit of cross-fire, he’s fine and dominates. However, when he gets a bit too far to the third base side, he has a habit of trying to use that athleticism to overcompensate and he gets underneath his fastball, letting it hang up in the zone and his curve gets much more loopy.

As he gets more instruction and comfortable in his delivery, his command and his change up will be much better. He seems to struggle with the change when he’s out of line, and that will be the determining factor as to whether he’s a starter or reliever down the road. Santillan’s raw stuff in the bullpen would quickly make him an elite power closer if he was moved into the relief role.

Next: #9

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