Gregory Santos, a right-handed pitcher, has made a bold move by opting for free agency, rejecting an outright assignment to Triple-A Sacramento. This decision comes after a tumultuous journey through the MLB, marked by injuries and inconsistent performance. Santos, who made his big league debut with the Giants in 2021, has had a rollercoaster ride, to say the least.
What makes Santos' situation particularly intriguing is the contrast between his potential and his actual performance. In 2023, he had a career-best season, pitching 66 1/3 innings with a 3.39 ERA, striking out 22.8% of batters, and walking just 5.9%. This performance earned him a trade to the Mariners, who saw him as a potential bullpen cornerstone. However, his time in Seattle was cut short due to a series of injuries, including a lat strain, a biceps injury, and a knee surgery that sidelined him for most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The fact that Santos has only 347 1/3 professional innings under his belt, despite making his debut in 2016, raises questions about his durability and consistency. While his 2023 season was impressive, it remains a single outlier in a career marred by injuries. The question now is whether he can recapture that form and prove himself as a reliable MLB pitcher.
From my perspective, Santos' decision to become a free agent is a risky move. He has the talent, but his health has been a constant concern. If he can stay healthy and find a team willing to give him a chance, he might just prove himself again. However, if he continues to struggle with injuries, he could find himself on the outside looking in. The baseball world will be watching to see if Santos can turn his career around and become the reliable pitcher he was meant to be.
