When rehabbing Dodgers right-hander Dennis Santana finished his one and only inning of work to start Game-3 of the California League South Division Finals for the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes against the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) at LoanMart Field last Friday evening, he told reporters after his brief 20-pitch outing that he had no idea where he was going from there.

He does now.

Late Monday afternoon, Quakes manager Drew Saylor told ThinkBlueLA that the 22-year-old San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic native, who is rehabbing from a right rotator cuff strain, will open the 2018 Cal League Championship Series for the Quakes against the Visalia Rawhide at Recreation Park in downtown Visalia.

“He will start Tuesday,” Saylor said. “But we haven’t been told how long he will go.”

Obviously, the ‘how long’ is a decision that will come from the Dodgers front office and the team’s medical staff. That being said and based on past history in similar rehab situations, pure speculation suggests that Santana will be bumped up to perhaps two innings and / or somewhere in the 30 to 40-pitch range; but again, this is pure speculation.

If you do the math, last Friday to Tuesday is four days, which suggests that the 6′-2″ / 160-pound hard-throwing right-hander is rehabbing as a reliever and not as a starter … at least for now.

But why the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, who are about to begin the best-of-five Cal League Championship Series for the first time since 2015, you ask?

The most obvious answer – although once again pure speculation – is that there is still a chance, albeit slight, that the extremely popular Dodger fan favorite might … might be called up to the Dodgers during the final three weeks of the regular season and possibly even the postseason (if they make it there) to provide an addition power arm in the Dodgers on-again / off-again bullpen. Add to that the fact that Rancho Cucamonga is a heck of a lot closer to Dodger Stadium than is (Triple-A) Oklahoma City and (Double-A) Tulsa, who are also currently in their respective league’s playoffs.

By every indication, the Dodgers are having Santana rehab with the Quakes during their playoff run for the sole purpose of getting him ready to possibly rejoin the Dodgers during the final three weeks of the regular season and possibly into the postseason. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

After his 20-pitch outing last Friday, during which he did not allow a run or hit but walked two and struck out one, Santana met with reporters to talk about his brief outing.

“I feel better than ever, you know,” Santana said. “I working rehab for three months and now I come back to pitch with different team. I feel excited for that.”

Prior to his first live game action in three months, Santana snapped this selfie with former Dodgers PR Director and current Wasserman Senior Director Baseball, Player Relations Yvonne Carrasco, and Dennis’ father Jose Santana. Jose made the trip from his home in the Dominican Republic to watch his son pitch.
(Photo courtesy of Jose Santana)

Asked if walking two of the five batters he faced was the result of rust from not having pitched in an actual game for three months, let alone a playoff game, Santana quickly gave a far more logical explanation.

“I feel really good, just too excited, play in the playoff for the fans of the team. I was excited. Wow, I’m back,” he answered with his huge signature smile.