Johan Santana Biography
Johan Alexander Santana Araque, a Venezuelan who played professional baseball as a starting pitcher, was born on March 13, 1979 (/john/). Santana participated in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 to 2007 for the Minnesota Twins and from 2008 to 2012 for the New York Mets. Santana, a four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner with the Twins, won the pitching triple championship in 2006. Santana pitched the New York Mets’ first no-hitter ever against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 1, 2012.
Johan Santana Professional career
Andres Reiner, a scout with the Houston Astros in 1994, made Santana aware of his talent. Santana’s parents permitted him to enroll in Houston’s Valencia academy. Reiner stated that he was still debating whether Santana was a better prospect as an outfielder or a pitcher when Astros scouting director Dan O’Brien contacted to see if he had signed Santana to a contract.
Santana was informed that he will be pitching following six weeks of training. Santana didn’t like it and was about to leave when Reiner talked him into staying. Santana was originally a center fielder, but the academy changed him to a pitcher owing to his quick arm. He received the Tovar Mérida Athlete of the Year award in 1999.
Johan Santana Minnesota Twins
Santana was left unprotected by the Houston Astros following the 1999 major league season, making him eligible for the Rule 5 draft. That year, the Florida Marlins and Minnesota Twins traded places for the first and second picks. In exchange for the Marlins selecting Santana, the Twins agreed to select Jared Camp with their first-round pick. The two players would be traded, and the Twins would get $50,000 as compensation for their pick.
On April 3, 2000, Santana made his Major League debut for the Twins against Tampa Bay, coming out of the bullpen. On April 7, 2000, he made his MLB debut against Kansas City. On June 6, 2000, he made a bullpen appearance against Houston and earned his first MLB victory. In 86 innings pitched during his debut season in 2000, he recorded a 6.49 ERA.
The Twins sent Santana to the minors for two months in 2002 so that he could focus nearly entirely on honing his changeup. He continued doing this for 10 starts before returning to the majors with a great changeup to go along with his extremely outstanding fastball. Bobby Cuellar, Santana’s pitching coach while in the minors, insisted that Santana toss at least one changeup to each batter. Cuellar claims that Santana occasionally threw 20 consecutive passes in games.
After having minimal success as a starter early in his career, Santana was deployed as a lengthy reliever. With 15, he had the most wild pitches in the majors in 2002.
After spending the first four months of the 2003 season in the bullpen, Santana moved from relief to the Twins’ starting rotation. He threw the ALDS first game against the Yankees and won his last eight decisions.
A young minor-league pitcher in the Anaheim Angels farm system by the name of Johan Santana changed his name to Ervin Santana in 2003 and has since experienced major league success as a result of Santana’s early success with the Twins. After the season, Santana underwent minor elbow surgery.
2004 season
Santana experienced one of the best second halves in modern times in 2004. He broke Burt Hooton and Rick Sutcliffe’s previous Major League second-half record with a 13-0 record, becoming the first pitcher since 1961 to allow four or fewer hits in ten consecutive starts.
The rest of Santana’s second-half statistics, including 11.13 strikeouts per nine innings, a 1.21 earned run average, 4.74 hits per nine innings, and 6.73 baserunners per nine innings, were also excellent. Santana also surpassed Bert Blyleven’s previous record of 258 strikeouts from 1973 by setting a new team season record of 265 strikeouts.
With a 20-6 record and a league-leading 265 strikeouts, 2.61 ERA, 10.46 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, 0.92 WHIP,.192 batting average allowed,.249 on-base percentage,.315 on-base plus slugging percentage, and.564 OPS, Santana had a strong finish. He also walked just 54 batters in 228 innings. Only six out of seven attempts at basestealing were made against him, and his 20 triumphs were second only to Curt Schilling’s 21. He received all 28 first-place votes, comfortably winning the AL Cy Young Award.
2005 season
In his first start of the year, Santana struggled, allowing four runs in the first inning. However, he immediately regained his composure and beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4. He struck out 11 Chicago White Sox batters in his second game, which the Twins won 5-2. After Indians pitcher Kevin Millwood (2.86), Santana had the second-lowest ERA in the AL at the end of the season (2.87).
His winning percentage dropped significantly in his second full season as a starter, though, as a result of the 2005 Twins’ subpar team costing him some games that he would have otherwise been able to win. He placed third in the Cy Young vote, behind Mariano Rivera, the closer, and winner Bartolo Colón. He led the majors with 238 strikeouts during the season.
2006 season
As the first pitcher to accomplish it since Dwight Gooden in 1985, Santana claimed the Major League Triple Crown in pitching. He tied Chien-Ming Wang for the most wins (19) and finished the season with the best ERA (2.77) and strikeout totals in the majors. He made history by becoming the first pitcher to capture the triple crown with fewer than 20 victories and the first with an ERA higher than 2.60.
Additionally, Santana ranked first in the AL for opposition batting average (.216), WHIP (1.00), and innings pitched (233.2). After the All-Star break, he proceeded to solidify his reputation as a superb second-half starter, dropping only one game while winning 10, and having a 2.54 ERA. He missed the chance to earn his 20th victory of the year due to a brief slump. The 2006 season marked the first time in modern Major League Baseball history that no pitcher won 20 games.
Santana became the 14th player in MLB history to win the honor numerous times when he won his second Cy Young honor in 2006. He joined Roger Clemens, Pedro Martnez, Greg Maddux, and Sandy Koufax in becoming the fifth pitcher to win the award by a unanimous vote several times. Sandy Koufax accomplished the feat three times.
Santana topped the league in strikeouts each of the three years from 2004 to 2006, in ERA twice as well as in a number of other significant statistical categories. He had a three-year record of 55-19, a 2.75 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and 748 strikeouts during that time.
2007 season
A four-hit shutout followed by two victories helped Santana kickstart his season after a sluggish beginning that saw his record drop to 6-6 at one point. Santana was announced as a participant in the 2007 All-Star Game on July 1, marking his third consecutive outing. On the team bus to a game at Shea Stadium on June 19, 2007, Bert Blyleven declared that he would shave his head if that night’s starting pitcher, Santana, threw a shutout complete game. Santana pitched a four-hit shutout during the course of the Twins’ 9-0 victory. The following day, Santana shaved Blyleven’s head.
On August 19 against the Texas Rangers, Santana had possibly his finest game of his career, retiring 17 batters in eight innings. Sammy Sosa received both of his hits, and he only gave up two walks. His 17 strikeouts in one game set a Twins team record.[9] The highest game score in MLB history for a pitcher in an incomplete game belongs to Santana, who earned a 95.
He had the most losses of his career (13), and he led the major leagues in home runs allowed (33). With only 15 victories, Santana had his worst season since 2003. Santana was second in the AL in strikeouts (235), third in WHIP, and seventh in ERA, however. Santana pitched only three innings in the final contest of the season due to a lengthy rain delay in a road game against the Detroit Tigers. This was the end of a run of 123 starts during which he pitched five innings or more.
In the previous fifty years, a pitcher’s current streak of consecutive games is the third longest. Santana’s first choice for the AL Gold Glove Award for pitcher was announced in November. In addition, he received the Fielding Bible Award for being the top fielding pitcher in MLB and was in fifth place in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award.
Johan Santana New York Mets
2008 season
Santana was exchanged from the Twins to the New York Mets on February 2, 2008, along with Carlos Gómez, Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey.[14] Santana and the Mets came to an agreement on a six-year, $137.5 million deal. Santana, who was chosen to start on Opening Day, threw 100 pitches over the course of seven innings to defeat the Florida Marlins. He recorded his first victory at Shea Stadium while playing for the New York Mets on May 10, 2008.
Santana defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on June 1, 2008, after pitching 7.2 innings and allowed just one run.
After the Mets played a 14-inning game in which every pitcher in the bullpen saw action, Johan completed a complete game on July 27 and improved his record to 9-7. He struck out five batters and collected his first RBI as a Met against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a 3-0 Mets victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 17, 2008, Santana pitched his second complete game for his 11th victory of the year, allowing just three hits, walking no one, and striking out seven.
On September 23, Santana defeated the Chicago Cubs by throwing 125 pitches in eight innings, a career high at the time. On September 27, with three days of rest, against the Florida Marlins in a 2-0 victory during the season’s last weekend and in the middle of the playoff chase, Santana pitched a flawless three-hit gem. Later, it was discovered that Santana had thrown that day and maybe in many prior starts while suffering from a torn meniscus in his left knee. On October 1, 2008, he underwent successful surgery to repair the injury.
Santana broke Jon Matlack’s 35-year mark of 205 strikeouts in 1973 by finishing the regular season with a 16-7 record, a 2.53 ERA, and 206 strikeouts. This set a Mets single-season record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. His 2.53 ERA was a career high and was the best in the majors. In the second half of the season, he was unbeaten and set a career best in innings pitched. He did, however, lose seven saves that were not recovered from, which tied for the most in the majors.
After Tim Lincecum and Brandon Webb, who won the NL Cy Young Award, Santana came in third.
2009 season
Johan Santana began the New York Mets’ inaugural game of the 2009 season against the Cincinnati Reds on April 7, 2009. He pitched 5.2 innings, giving up just one earned run, and ended up winning. In his second start against the Florida Marlins on April 12, Santana struck out 13 batters and allowed just two unearned runs over seven innings, but he still lost for the first time since losing to the New York Yankees on June 28, 2008. After needing to have season-ending arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow on August 25, Santana was put on the 15-day disabled list and missed the rest of the season. Santana had a 13-9 record and a 3.13 ERA at the end of the season.
He came in third place after Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez on Sporting News’ ranking of the 50 greatest active baseball players in 2009. The list was compiled after a poll of 100 baseball enthusiasts, many of them are Baseball Hall of Famers and recipients of significant baseball honors.
2010 season
The worst start of Santana’s MLB career came on May 2, 2010, against Philadelphia, when he surrendered 10 runs in 32 1/3 innings, surpassing his previous worst start on June 14, 2009, against the Yankees, when he gave up nine runs and nine hits in just three innings. After that, Santana had five more starts, but in them, he only allowed seven earned runs, struck out 21, and raised his record to 4-2 with a 3.03 ERA. The Mets’ first run was scored on July 6 when Santana hit his first major league home run off Matt Maloney of the Cincinnati Reds. Santana then went on to pitch a complete game shutout to secure the victory.
Santana had a 3-0 record with a 0.71 ERA in five starts from July 1 to July 23. In his second career start against Atlanta, Santana, who was fighting to maintain his 10-9 record as of September 2, pulled his pectoral muscle after throwing 65 pitches. On September 2, he defeated the Atlanta Braves in his final game of the year. He had surgery on his torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder on September 14. Santana finished the year with an 11-9 record and a 2.98 ERA. Johan has sustained an injury for the third year running.
2011 season
Johan Santana pitched exclusively in the minor leagues in 2011 while he recovered from anterior capsule surgery on his left shoulder (dominant).
2012 season
Santana was chosen to open the Mets’ season on April 5, 2012. Since tearing the anterior capsule in his left shoulder on September 2, 2010, Santana had not pitched in the majors. With five strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves, he pitched five scoreless innings. The ninth of his career, Santana pitched a perfect game shutout against the San Diego Padres on May 26. Over his first 10 starts, he went from 0-2 to 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA while striking out seven batters over nine innings. He pitched eight innings of perfect baseball on June 30 at Dodger Stadium while scattering three hits.
Santana made three more starts until the Mets placed him on the 15-day disabled list on July 21 due to a sprained right ankle. On August 22, Santana was once more placed on the 15-day disabled list due to lower back irritation. For the remainder of the 2012 campaign, he did not pitch. Santana had a 4.85 ERA, 111 strikeouts, 21 starts, and 6-9 record in 117 innings thrown for the season.
No-hitte
Santana defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, the defending World Series champions, on June 1 in just his 11th start following shoulder surgery. In their 51st season and 8,020th regular-season game, the Mets recorded their first no-hitter. It was the first no-hitter against a World Series champion team since former Met Nolan Ryan shut out the Oakland Athletics in 1990 and only the eighth no-hitter in MLB history.
Santana walked five batters, struck out eight, and his season ERA dropped to 2.38. Additionally, he made a career-high 134 pitches. A liner by former Met Carlos Beltrán in the sixth inning that struck the foul line behind third base but was ruled foul was one of the game’s notable moments. After making a challenging grab in left field to save the no-hitter in the seventh inning, Mike Baxter slammed into the wall with great force. He was put on the DL after leaving the game with a damaged left shoulder.
Santana was selected National League Player of the Week for the week ending June 3, 2012, in recognition of his no-hitter. It was his fifth such honor, after teammate R. A. Dickey, who had received it the week before. Mayor Michael Bloomberg awarded him the Key to the City for his pitching prowess.
Santana’s no-hitter from 2022 is the only one by a Mets pitcher to have occurred single, despite the fact that five Mets pitchers combined to no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 on April 29, 2022.
2013 season
Early in 2013, Santana suffered a second shoulder capsule tear. On April 3, 2013, Dr. David Altchek performed surgery. He was out for the full 2013 campaign. Having had his 2014 option purchased by the Mets for $5.5 million on November 1, 2013, Santana became a free agent.
2014 season
Santana and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a minor league contract on March 4, 2014. The agreement said that Santana would receive $3 million if he was selected for the Major League roster, as well as an invitation to Major League spring training. Santana ruptured his Achilles tendon on June 6 while starting an extended spring training game. He was out for the balance of the 2014 MLB season.
2015 season
Santana and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a minor league deal on February 26, 2015. If he made the 25-man roster, his contract would have earned him $2.5 million and included bonuses for active days and games started. As he recovered the shoulder muscles in his throwing arm, Santana began the season on the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons’ disabled list. Santana declared on June 27 that he would be abandoning his 2015 campaign due to a toe infection and will begin his recovery in 2016.
Johan Santana Pitching style
A circle changeup, which was generally regarded as Santana’s finest pitch, a slider, and an 88-94 mph fastball made up his pitching arsenal.
Johan Santana Personal life
Santana is the second of a total of five kids. He played center field for Jose Nucete Sardi High School, where he was a student. He has three children—two daughters and a son—with Yasmile, his wife, whom he has known since he was nine years old. Due to the birth of his kid, Santana was unable to attend the New York Mets’ opening regular-season game at Citi Field in 2009. He and his family live in Estero, Florida’s Lee County neighborhood of Miromar Lakes.
Santana wanted to play shortstop in Little League as a kid, but the coaches informed him he couldn’t since he was a lefty. To play shortstop, he later learned himself to throw right-handed.
Santana established The Johan Santana Foundation in 2006 to help out hospitals. A yellow fire engine was also bought in 2006 by Santana and the Minnesota Twins for Tovar’s fire department. Johan’s foundation is supported entirely by sales of Santana’s Select, his charity wine. The foundation gave money to Tuesday’s Children in 2012, a charity that aids 9/11-affected families and anyone who have lost loved ones to terrorism worldwide.
Following an incident that happened on a Florida golf course on October 28, 2009, a lady accused Santana of sexual battery. Criminal charges weren’t brought. Santana asserted that he and his accuser had a consensual sexual encounter. Later, Santana’s accuser filed a civil case, which was resolved in November 2012.
On August 4, 2018, Santana was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony at Target Field.
Who is Johan Santana?
The Venezuelan musician Johan Santana, whose full name is Johan Alexander Santana Araque, was born in Tovar, Mérida, on March 13, 1979. He attended Jose Nucete High School while he was a teen. He was discovered by Houston Astros scout Andres Reiner in 1994, who then extended an invitation for him to enroll in the Houston school. Santana was finally converted to a pitcher at the academy after beginning as a center fielder. In 1999, he received the Tovar Mérida Athlete of the Year award.
What is Johan Santana age, height, and weight?
Currently 44 years old and having been born on March 13, 1979, is Johan. He weighs 95 kilograms and is 6 feet 0 inches tall.
What is Johan Santana Nationality and Ethnicity?
Venezuelan by birth, Johan. His racial origin is unknown.
What is Johan Santana profession?
Santana was selected by the Florida Marlins after the 1999 season, but he was later traded to the Minnesota Twins. He then played against the Tampa Bay Rays in a game in April 2000 to make his MLB debut. Later, in June, he defeated the Houston Astros to record his first professional victory. With 86 innings worked, Santana had a 6.49 ERA to cap off his rookie campaign.
Santana spent a few months in the minors in 2002 to polish his changeup abilities. He had a lot better changeup when he went back to the majors. Midway through the 2003 season, Santana was promoted to the Twins’ starting rotation after beginning his career as a reliever. He pitched the first game against the New York Yankees while making it to the ALDS that year.
Then, in 2004, Santana had one of his most successful seasons, particularly in the second half of the year. Among his accomplishments, he set a new Twins single-season record with 265 strikeouts, led the American League in a number of different categories, and finished the year by winning his first Cy Young Award.
Santana was generally in excellent shape in 2005, despite the Twins’ difficulties. He finished the year with a 2.87 ERA and 238 strikeouts, which led all of MLB. In 2006, Santana had even more success by winning the Major League Triple Crown, being the first pitcher to do it since Dwight Gooden in 1985. Additionally, he concluded the season with the best ERA and strikeout totals in MLB (2.77 and 245, respectively). Santana won the Cy Young Award for a second time.Santana recovered from a shaky start to the 2007 season with a four-hit shutout and two more victories.
Later, he contributed to the Twins’ 9-0 victory in the All-Star Game. In August, Santana had one of his best performances of his career when he struck out a Twins record 17 batters against the Texas Rangers, earning him the AL Gold Glove Award and the Fielding Bible Award.
From 2008 through 2010, he subsequently played for the MLB’s New York Mets. Santana got surgery on his left shoulder later, in September, and missed the entire 2011 season as a result.In 2012, Santana spent his final campaign with the Mets. He started off strong by pitching a full game in May against the San Diego Padres. One of the pinnacles of Santana’s professional career and the season’s high point occurred on June 1 when he pitched a no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the Mets’ first no-hitter ever.
The rest of Santana’s season was marred by injuries after the no-hitter. He was put on the disabled list in July after spraining his ankle, and the following month he was put on it once more for back inflammation. The remainder of the season was therefore missed by Santana. He suffered a shoulder injury again in the beginning of 2013 and missed the season. In 2014, Santana attained free agency.
Santana signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, however he was once again sidelined by injury, forcing him to miss the season. The Toronto Blue Jays offered Santana a minor league contract the following year. He was placed on the disabled list to start the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Santana made the decision to finish his season early due to a toe infection in late June.
Did Johan Santana no-hitter end his career?
Santana sustained back and ankle problems. Despite Santana’s sad career ending after the 2012 season, his no-hitter from ten years ago is still regarded as one of the best accomplishments in the franchise’s history.
Is Johan Santana a Hall Famer?
There is currently no proof that Santana belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Who are Johan Santana Parents?
The second child of Hilda Santana Burguillos and power company repairman Jess Santana Burguillos is Johan. Nothing is known about their private life.
Does Johan Santana have siblings?
Yes. The second of his parent’s five children, the former MLB great has four siblings.
Who is Johan Santana married to?
Yasmile, a close childhood friend who he adores, and Santana are married. The couple still has a close bond after getting married in 1998.
Does Johan Santana have children?
Yes. He and his cherished wife were blessed with three children: a son and two girls. He and his family live in Estero, Florida’s Lee County neighborhood of Miromar Lakes.
