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 Dominican Summer League Indians 1, one of the Indians' Dominican Summer League clubs.

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, but he made his major league debut in 2008 for the Baltimore Orioles. In January 2009, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. After not playing in 2010 Santos left to sign with the Detroit Tigers.

Baltimore Orioles

In September Omir Santos was called up from the Norfolk tides and was given number 67. Santos played in 11 games and had 10 at-bats, recording one hit. In that season he caught nine games, starting three.

New York Mets

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.[1]

On April 27, 2009, Santos hit his first career home run, a grand slam off the Florida Marlins Aníbal Sánchez. It was the first grand slam hit in Citi Field. The home run also produced his first career RBI.[2]

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.[3]

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. 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.

On November 25, 2009, Santos was named on the 51st annual Topps All-Star Rookie team. Santos finished the season with seven home runs, 40 runs batted in, 73 hits and a .260 average.[4]

On February 20, 2010, the Mets signed catcher Rod Barajas to a Major League deal. 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.

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.[5]

On November 10, 2010, Santos refused his minor league assignment and became a free agent.[6]

Detroit Tigers

During the 2010 MLB Winter Meetings, Santos signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was promoted to the Tigers on April 19 and was given number 18 to fill in for injured backup catcher Victor Martínez. On April 19 against the Seattle Mariners Santos got a pinch hit single. The next day he got the start where he went 0 for 4 and caught nine innings.[7] Santos was recalled again in August to replace Miguel Cabrera who was attending the birth of his child. 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. Regular backup catcher Víctor Martínez had been limited to designated hitter due to injury.[8]

After being outrighted to Triple-A in 2011, Santos was given an invitation to spring training as a non-roster player. 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. On June 2, 2012, Omir Santos had a walk-off sacrifice fly to beat the New York Yankees.[9]

On June 6, 2012, Santos was designated for assignment. On June 8, 2012 Santos declined the minor league assignment and became a free agent.[10]

Colorado Rockies

On June 13, 2012 Santos signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[11]

Cleveland Indians

On February 5, 2013 Santos signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.[12] Santos started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and was called up to the Indians on April 9, 2013.[13] He appeared in one game for the Indians before being optioned back to Columbus a week later. On July 14, Santos was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Columbus.[14]

Santos declared free agency on October 3, 2013.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Santos signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 7, 2014.[15]

Washington Nationals

Santos signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals in 2015. He was released on April 2, 2015.[16]

Second Stint with Indians

On March 8, 2016, Santos signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians.

Coaching career

Santos was named as the bench coach for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2019. He was promoted to manager of the Dominican Summer League Indians 1 on January 24, 2020.[17]

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References
  1. Rubin, Adam (April 18, 2009). "Mets expect Pelfrey to miss his turn". Daily News. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  2. Rubin, Adam (April 27, 2009). "Omir Santos slams Marlins as John Maine starts to roll in 7–1 win". Daily News. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
  3. Dicomo, Anthony (May 23, 2009). "Santos, Mets Stun Red Sox; Go-ahead Homer Followed by Brilliant Show of Defense". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  4. Marty Noble. "Santos makes Topps All-Star Rookie team | mets.com: News". Newyork.mets.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  5. Anthony DiComo. "With Blanco on mend, Mets option Santos | mets.com: News". Newyork.mets.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
  6. Mike Hessman and Omir Santos Become Free Agents Archived 2010-11-13 at the Wayback Machine Mets Blog November 10, 2010
  7. Tigers opt to place V-Mart on disabled list – Santos' contract purchased from Triple-A Toledo MLB.com April 19, 2011
  8. "Tigers Cabrera on paternity leave, Santos recalled". The Associated Press. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  9. Detroit Tigers' Omir Santos plays hero, erases costly errors with walk-off sacrifice fly
  10. Beck, Jason (June 6, 2012). "Tigers lose Avila to DL with hamstring issue". mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  11. Schmehl, James (June 13, 2012). "Former Detroit Tigers catcher Omir Santos signs minor-league deal with Colorado Rockies". MLive.com. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  12. Jordan Bastian [@MLBastian] (5 February 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.
  13. "Player Page - Omir Santos". RotoWorld. NBC Sports Digital. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  14. Massie, Jim (July 14, 2013). "Cleveland options Wood to Clippers; outrights Santos". The Columbus Dispatch.
  15. "Omir Santos, Pirates agree to minor league deal". Associated Press. SI.com. February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  16. Eddy, Matt (January 11, 2015). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8". Baseball America.
  17. Bell, Mandy (January 24, 2020). "Indians announce Minors coaching changes". Indians.com.
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