The debuts are coming along fast and furious in the Dodger minor league system aided by an attempt by the Dodgers to keep the young players feeding through the pipeline and into new challenges as quickly as possible. The rapid acceleration is seen to be, and indeed is, beneficial both to the organization and to the aspiring major leaguers.

Quite often young players move through the system almost unnoticed among their peers who are high draft pick selections or higher profile international signings. Right-hander Dennis Santana is one of those young players who, to date, has not been on the high-profile chart. However, he is definitely working his way up the ladder in the Dodgers minor league system and is now ranked as the Dodgers 14th top prospect by mlbpipeline.com.

Santana, as so often happens with youngsters from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, was signed as a shortstop by Dodgers scout Patrick Guerrero on March 12, 2013. His first year with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers in 2013 did not go as well as he had hoped as he hit only .198 in 56 games. However, Dodger scouts and development personnel noticed something else about Santana that was a more than a little intriguing. The radar gun showed he could deliver a fastball in the mid-90’s range and some considered his arm to be “golden” with a sinker described as “electric,” now touching 98 mph when he pitches in relief.

After dominating Cal League hitters for most of the 2017 season, Santana’s much-anticipated Texas League debut on Monday was equally impressive. (Photo credit – Jeremy Davis)

Needless to say, that when the 2014 season rolled in Santana was on the mound with the DSL Dodgers and with excellent results. He posted an ERA of 1.05 in 20 games, with a record of 2-1 and 4 saves. In 34.1 innings, he gave up only 19 hits while walking 15 and striking out 38.

The 6’2”/160-pound Santana as a 19-year-old was assigned to the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League to start the 2015 season. He did not adapt well to his new situation and in 21.2 innings with the Raptors he gave up 35 hits and walked 21 batters.

With his 2015 season as a backdrop, it might have been expected that Santana would begin his season back in Ogden, or at least in extended spring training. The Dodgers definitely knew something about his “golden arm” as he instead made his Class-A Great Lakes Loons debut on April 13 pitching three innings in relief.

As the 2015 season rolled out Santana appeared in 25 games with the Loons including 14 starts. He pitched a team high 111.1 innings giving up only 84 hits while striking out 124 and walking 56. His strikeout total was good for third in the Midwest League and he would have ranked first in opponent batting average against at .209 and second in strikeout rate at an even 10.0 but fell just shy of qualifying. He was a mid-season Midwest League All-Star.

In the natural progression of things Santana began the 2017 season as a member of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the hitter friendly California League. He soon made his mark and in 17 appearances with the Quakes over 85.2 innings he posted a 3.57 ERA while striking out 92 and walking but 22. His strikeout to walk ratio went from 2.2/1 in 2016 to 4.2/1 in 2017.

Santana was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers on July 20 along with pitching teammates Mitchell White and Yadier Alvarez. White made his Tulsa debut on July 22 allowing one run over three innings pitched. Alvarez started the Drillers game on July 23 giving up two runs in his four innings. Santana then made his Double-A debut on July 24 on the road against the Cardinals in Springfield and picked up his first win as a Driller, as well as delivering interim manager Scott Hennessey his first managerial win.

Perhaps a bit nervous, he hit one batter and delivered a wild pitch but was able to limit the damage to two runs allowed over five innings. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out six. In the fourth inning Santana had runners on second and third with none out and settled down to allow only one run on an infield single by Cardinals right fielder Magneuris Sierra.

Santana closed out the second inning by picking Springfield’s shortstop Darren Seferina off second base. The 21-year-old Santana left the game with a 4-2 lead having thrown 85 pitches, 52 of them strikes.

The Drillers went on to win the game 6-4 paced by the hot hitting Matt Beaty who lined a two-run homer to right field in the top half of the fifth inning providing the runs for Santana’s win. Shortstop Errol Robinson chipped in with two hits while left fielder Darien Tubbs had three hits including a double.

The Drillers and Cardinals will continue their 3-game series Tuesday evening. Tulsa will send out RHP Josh Sborz (4-7, 4.21 ERA) to the hill while Springfield will counter with a southpaw in starter Austin Gomber (4-7, 4.55 ERA). First pitch from Hammons Field is scheduled for 4:30 pm PT.

Following their two games with Springfield the Drillers head home for a seven-game homestand against the Arkansas Travelers and those same Springfield Cardinals.