Skip to main content

Santana Named as PTBNL in Pence Deal

Critics already had their fun with the details of last month's deal that saw the Phillies send their top two prospects to Houston for All-star outfielder Hunter Pence. Many have said the price was too high for a Pence who is "good, but not great". Others stuck by the old "prospects aren't proven commodities" argument. But with Monday's news that another top ten prospect from the Phillies' organization was being sent to the Astros, those determined to critique the trade will have more to gripe about.

Sources confirmed
for PhoulBallz.com early Monday afternoon that 19-year-old outfielder Domingo Santana is heading to the Astros as a player to be named later.

The 6-foot-5-inch 200-pounder is often regarded as a five-tool talent. Scouting himself, Santana declares that he is a power hitter. He also asserts that the recognition that has come his way, by multiple outlets naming him among the Phillies' best prospects, has helped him to focus and strive to become better.

Santana, a native of the Dominican Republic, was signed in 2009 at the age of 16. After debuting in the professional ranks that year, Santana batted .288 with 6 HR and 28 RBI in 37 games with the Gulf Coast League Phillies. The following season, Santana split time with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws and the short season Williamsport Crosscutters. In 103 combined games, Santana posted a .211 batting average with 8 HR and 36 RBI in 103 games played.

This season, the righty hitting Santana has shown improvements, posted a .269 average with 7 HR and 32 RBI in 96 games as a member of the BlueClaws.

The key for Santana's progress will be his ability to improve when hitting against left-handed pitchers and spreading out his hits, according to Lakewood hitting coach Greg Legg.

"Santana really comes in and works every day in the (batting) cage," Legg said recently. "The two areas for me, where's he's got to get a little better at, is obviously hitting off left-handed pitchers and, you know, using the whole field a little bit better, because he has great power the other way. Sometimes he tends to pull the lefties, with runners in scoring position.

"If those two areas improve, and I think that comes with experience, he'll be more successful. Other than that...he's hitting for a higher average, he's hitting the ball hard, he's still showing the power."

On July 29th, in the initial portion of this deal, the Phillies sent their top minor league arm Jarred Cosart, top overall offensive prospect "The Boss" Jonathan Singleton and right-handed reliever Josh Zied to Houston for Pence, who has already proven valuable to the big league lineup (.327 avg, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .926 OPS), in two weeks, with the defending National League East division champions, as they hope to reach the World Series for the third time in four years.

Surely, if the Phillies can ride the steady production of Pence all the way to their third ever World Series title, the trade will prove to have benefited the Phils enough to warrant the amount of star potential they gave up. If they fall short, however, trade evaluators could surely have their fuel to declare the Astros as winners of this talent exchange.

____________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . ______________