Dennis Santana

Dennis Santana

29-Year-Old PitcherRP
Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Santana received a NRI from the Yankees last offseason, and while he didn't break camp with New York, he impressed during spring training and was recalled in early April. He spent two months in the Bronx, struggling to a 6.26 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 27.1 innings before he was DFA'd. The 28-year-old righty was claimed by Pittsburgh a few days later and changed his approach, throwing fewer sinkers (.279 BAA, .395 SLG) in favor of more fastballs (.196 BAA, .268 SLG). Santana was much better with the Pirates, even making 21 consecutive appearances without permitting an earned run. He finished the campaign with career-highs in innings pitched (71.2) and WHIP (1.09), the latter being a notable improvement over his 1.32 mark for his career. Santana should open 2025 as one of Pittsburgh's highest-leverage relievers, which may include save chances if David Bednar does not reclaim the closer role. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season From Preseason
#403
ADP
Signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Pirates in February of 2025.
Begins serving three-game ban
PPittsburgh Pirates
Suspension
June 29, 2025
Santana will begin serving a three-game suspension Sunday following a successful appeal that reduced his ban from four games, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis
Major League Baseball previously issued a four-game suspension and a fine to the right-hander June 20, one day after he was deemed to have engaged in "aggressive conduct toward a fan near the bullpen" during the Pirates' doubleheader with the Tigers. Santana remained available over the past nine days after appealing, but he'll now be out through Tuesday's game against the Cardinals. Santana has been one of the Pirates' top relievers this season, notching five saves, nine holds and two wins over 36 appearances while pitching to a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB across 36 innings.
Read More News
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2025 MLB Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2025 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2024 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2023 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2022 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2021 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2020 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2019 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
2018 MLB Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Sorare
Loading Pitching Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
14
Last 10 Games
15
Last 5 Games
16
How many pitches does Dennis Santana generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Dennis Santana generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-33%
BAA vs LHP
2025
 
 
-46%
BAA vs LHP
2024
 
 
-30%
BAA vs LHP
2023
 
 
-17%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2023vs Left .156 166 44 19 22 6 1 2
Since 2023vs Right .233 309 65 16 67 18 3 5
2025vs Left .111 53 10 5 5 0 0 0
2025vs Right .205 85 18 2 17 3 2 1
2024vs Left .171 95 31 12 14 5 1 2
2024vs Right .243 192 38 9 43 13 1 2
2023vs Left .214 18 3 2 3 1 0 0
2023vs Right .259 32 9 5 7 2 0 2
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
 
 
-33%
ERA on Road
2025
 
 
-66%
ERA on Road
2024
 
 
-14%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-87%
ERA on Road
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2023Home 3.88 1.10 67.1 4 2 5 7.5 2.4 0.8
Since 2023Away 2.60 0.96 52.0 2 0 3 9.2 2.9 0.2
2025Home 1.93 0.64 23.1 1 1 3 6.9 0.8 0.4
2025Away 0.66 1.02 13.2 1 0 2 6.6 3.3 0.0
2024Home 4.14 1.23 41.1 3 1 2 7.6 2.8 0.7
2024Away 3.56 0.89 30.1 0 0 1 10.1 2.4 0.3
2023Home 16.88 3.00 2.2 0 0 0 10.1 10.1 6.8
2023Away 2.25 1.13 8.0 1 0 0 10.1 4.5 0.0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Dennis Santana compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
4.67
 
K/9
7.0
 
BB/9
1.5
 
HR/9
0.3
 
Fastball
94.7 mph
 
ERA
1.50
 
WHIP
0.78
 
BABIP
.222
 
GB/FB
1.42
 
Left On Base
78.9%
 
Exit Velocity
83.7 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
6.8%
 
Spin Rate
2458 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
26.0%
 
Swinging Strike
12.9%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Dennis Santana See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Dennis Santana See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
2019
After posting a 5.22 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 54 punchouts over 58.2 innings in 63 appearances with the Rangers last season, the reliever was dealt to Atlanta in November. He was later designated for assignment and claimed by the Twins. He'll try to wni a bullpen role this spring. Santana will likely operate in low-leverage situations out of the bullpen if he does make the major league roster.
Santana really feels like a reliever stuck in a starter's body. He is a slider-heavy starter with a secondary fastball and a usable changeup who has been able to strike out out more than a hitter per inning everywhere he has gone yet has also been rather hittable as well. He owns a devilish 6.66 ERA at the big-league level with a 1.52 WHIP and .265 opponents' batting average over parts of three seasons. He has struggled in the PCL with a 6.47 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in just over 100 innings of work there and Double-A was not much better with a 3.91 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. When you watch him pitch, you can't believe a guy who throws 93-97 with his slider has those numbers, but those are his outcomes to date. He turns 25 just after the season starts and feels like just the type of guy the Dodgers trade away in a package this winter to reload for a repeat title run.
Back in the summer of 2018, Santana was riding high as one of the hottest pitching prospects in the game, but he hasn't been the same since going down with a rotator cuff injury that summer. He got the call up relatively early on in 2019 (April 7), but was sent packing after just a trio of appearances with the big club. Santana was on the injured list at Triple-A Oklahoma City before the end of April and never got going following his return, posting an unsightly 5.77 FIP in 93.1 innings with the Dodgers' top affiliate. His walk rate went from 4.4% at that level in 2018 to 11.9%, and with the implementation of the happy fun ball at Triple-A, home runs suddenly became a problem. Santana has a minor-league option remaining and the Dodgers should give him time to prove his health and get on track given the flashes of upside, but Santana will be afforded less time than he would in another organization.
A brilliant first two months in the minor leagues earned Santana a promotion to Los Angeles. He posted K-BB rates of 23% and 26.7% at Double-A (38.2 innings) and Triple-A (11 innings), respectively, using his impressive fastball-slider-changeup mix to dominate competition that was more than two years older than him on average. Unfortunately, he only got one opportunity to show what he could do against major-league hitters. He hit the disabled list with a right rotator cuff strain days after his debut, and while surgery was deemed unnecessary, Santana remained shelved through the remainder of the season. Assuming he returns to full health, Santana will likely contribute a fair amount to the big-league team in 2019, though his role remains to be seen. His heavy sinking fastball would make Santana a valuable weapon in high-leverage spots, but the Dodgers probably don't want to throw in the towel on him starting just yet.
More Fantasy News
Handed four-game suspension
PPittsburgh Pirates
June 20, 2025
Santana received a four-game suspension and fine from the league Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Picks up second win
PPittsburgh Pirates
June 13, 2025
Santana (2-1) blew the save but earned the win against the Cubs on Friday, striking out one batter across 1.2 innings without allowing a run, hit or walk.
Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Notches fifth save
PPittsburgh Pirates
May 21, 2025
Santana struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Reds.
Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Works in setup role
PPittsburgh Pirates
May 20, 2025
Santana didn't allow a baserunner or record a strikeout in one scoreless inning to record a hold Tuesday against the Reds.
Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Clean ninth inning
PPittsburgh Pirates
May 14, 2025
Santana allowed one hit with no walks and no strikeouts across a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday against the Mets.
Analysis
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Expected to be traded
PPittsburgh Pirates
July 2, 2025
Santana and David Bednar are the Pirates players likeliest to be traded ahead of the July 31 deadline, per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com.
Analysis
Santana bounced around the waiver wire over the previous few years before landing with Pittsburgh last season, and he's become a reliable high-leverage reliever with a 2.02 ERA in 75 outings with the Buccos. The right-hander has been especially effective in 2025 with a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB across 36 innings while recording five saves and nine holds. Santana will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, and it would be logical for the Pirates to sell high while he still has a season-plus left under team control.
See All MLB Rumors