Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch.
In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more than delivered in a 5-5 tie vs. Giants prospects.
Santos cruised through his Spring Breakout start, tossing three perfect frames with six strikeouts: four swinging, one looking and one via pitch timer violation. He threw an efficient 37 pitches, 26 for strikes with 12 whiffs.
“You don't get a guy locked in like that very often,” Moore said. “When you do, you like to catch that. You wish everybody was like that every time, honestly. It's fun, because it doesn't really matter what I put down. He's just going to do it and it's going to get the guy out.
“You could see it when he was warming up. You can kind of just see it in the way it's coming out of his hand, and the way that he’s going about his business and the confidence that he has. It's a whole body confidence. … He was electric.”
When asked if Moore was correct in his assumption, Santos said he did feel locked in because he prepared as well as possible beforehand. He felt ready to do his job from the jump.
“I’ve learned a lot this spring and I’ve been enjoying making adjustments and I'm just ready to go,” Santos said through interpreter Nick Janssen. “I made some small changes to improve my control [last season] and I just enjoy the game. I just want to keep learning. Those adjustments helped me. I just want to keep building and getting better.”
His professional debut was delayed due to the pandemic, but there were high expectations both internally and externally. He threw just 33 innings in 2021 before posting a 3.49 ERA in 108 1/3 innings with Single-A Down East in 2022.
Santos is part of the latest crop of Rangers pitching prospects looking to turn the tide on the organizational perception regarding pitching development.
There’s Cody Bradford, who ingrained himself in the big league rotation before an injury this spring, the Vandy Boys duo of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker knocking on the door as we speak, and then Santos and Emiliano Teodo -- who cleaned up a bases-loaded jam in relief in Spring Breakout -- headlining the next group of homegrown starting pitchers.
“We've talked a lot about our pitching pipeline, our pitching development practices, and we're not all the way there yet,” general manager Ross Fenstermaker said earlier this week. “We feel like we've created quite a decent-sized group in terms of guys that can come up and help contribute here in the near future. I feel like in some ways, [Teodo] has become too famous with what he's done here in camp, and Winston is right behind him as well.”
Santos was signed for just $10,000 out of the Dominican Republic in the Rangers’ 2019-20 international class, and it’s been an improbable rise and fall and rise again for him in the following years.
But then he struggled to a 6.29 ERA in 98 2/3 innings with High-A Hickory in 2024 before finally showing his full potential in 2024.
He boasted a 3.67 ERA between Hickory and Double-A Frisco last season, leading the farm in wins (11) and strikeouts (138 in 110 1/3 innings). He pitched in the All-Star Futures Game and was added to the Rangers’ 40-man roster this offseason.
Frisco manager Carlos Cardoza, who also managed the Spring Breakout game, raved about Santos last season and is even higher on the 22-year-old now.
“I see an electric fastball and improvement in his secondary stuff,” Cardoza said. “Once he was able to get the slider underneath the bats, it just kind of took off from there. That's between the lines. I think what stood out the most was his professionalism and how steadfast and committed he was to his routine and his body and his work between starts.”
“We’re seeing all see the fruits of the labor that's been put in the last couple of years and the kind of synergy that exists between the different departments [in pitching development]. Ross has said it: It’s not a finished product by any means, but it's certainly a bright spot with what the system is doing.”
2025 Big League Weekend Recap (March 8-9): Arizona vs. Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark
2025 BIG LEAGUE WEEKEND RECAP: Saturday, March 8: The Athletics defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-2, in game one of the Big League Weekend Spring Training two-game series before a sellout crowd of 8,708 at Las Vegas Ballpark. Athletics left-hander JP Sears recorded the victory. He pitched 3.0 innings and allowed
KVVU FOX5 and the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network to Broadcast Big League Weekend Games in Las Vegas
(Las Vegas, NV) – March 3, 2025 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today that the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network (SSSEN) and KVVU FOX5 will televise the Spring Training two-game series at Las Vegas Ballpark®
Minor League Baseball's 2025 Triple-A National Championship Game Set for Saturday, September 27th in Las Vegas
Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced that the 2025 Triple-A National Championship Game, which will feature the winners of the International League and Pacific Coast League meeting in a single-game format, will be played on Saturday, September 27th in Las Vegas. The Triple-A National Championship Game, which will follow the
Fran Riordan Returns as Manager for 2025 Campaign; Aviators® Season Opener on Friday, March 28 vs. Reno at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – February 5, 2025 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today, in conjunction with the A’s Communications Department, that Fran Riordan will return for his eighth season as manager for the A’s Triple-A affiliate
Las Vegas Aviators® donate team merchandise valued at $500,000 to five local nonprofits
LAS VEGAS AVIATORS@ DONATE TEAM MERCHANDISE VALUED AT $500,000 TO FIVE LOCAL NONPROFITS Project 150, Family Promise of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Opportunity Village, and Ronald McDonald House each receive merchandise valued at $100,000 to benefit their organizations and respective clients Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uXNqb7EfG6iRnXHB9 Las Vegas, Nev (Dec. 27,
2025 Big League Weekend features: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Athletics on Saturday-Sunday, March 8-9 at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – (September 30, 2024) – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today two games for the 2025 Big League Weekend at Las Vegas Ballpark®. The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Athletics on Saturday-Sunday, March 8-9.
2025 Aviators® Individual Game Tickets Public on Sale - Mon., Nov. 4 via aviatorslv.com; 2025 Big League Weekend (Arizona vs. Athletics, Sat-Sun, March 8-9) Individual Game Tickets Public on Sale - Wed., Nov. 6 via aviatorslv.com
(Las Vegas, NV) – November 4, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today that individual game tickets for the 2025 season will go public on sale today at noon on aviatorslv.com. Groups and hospitality packages are
Matt Neverett Named 2024 Nevada Sportscaster of the Year
(Las Vegas, NV) – January 7, 2025 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics, announced today in conjunction with Dave Goren, Executive Director of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA), that play-by-play broadcaster Matt Neverett was named the 2024
Minor League Baseball Announces 2024 Triple-A League Awards & All-Star Teams; Five Aviators Players Represented: Allen, Alvarez, Díaz, Holman, Thomas!
Click here for the 2024 Triple-A League Awards and All-Star Teams Press Release
2024 Triple-A National Championship Game on Saturday, September 28 at Las Vegas Ballpark®
September 25, 2024 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the official start time for the 2024 Triple-A Championship Game, set for Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:09 p.m. PT/10:09 ET, at Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Triple-A Championship Game will see the winners of the International League
AVIATORS® ANNOUNCE SEASON AWARDS FOR 2024 CAMPAIGN; INF NICK ALLEN RECIPIENT OF THE MAYOR'S TROPHY
(Las Vegas, NV) – September 20, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, announced today the 2024 season awards for the players. The Las Vegas franchise has been a member of the Pacific Coast League for 41 years (1983-2020, 2022-23) and one
Aviators® INF/OF Logan Davidson Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (September 9-15)
(Las Vegas, NV) – – September 16, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that INF/OF Logan Davidson was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (September 9-15) for the second time this
Aviators® Host El Paso Chihuahuas in final homestand of regular season from Tuesday-Saturday, September 17-22 at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – September 14, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, will host the El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, in the opener of the six-game series on Tuesday, September 17
Aviators® Catcher Carlos Pérez Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (September 2-8)
(Las Vegas, NV) – September 9, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that catcher Carlos Pérez was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (September 2-8). Pérez is the sixth Aviators player
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCES AUGUST PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH; Aviators® INF Nick Allen & LHP Brady Basso earn PCL Honors!
Sept. 5, 2024 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for August in Major League Baseball’s player development system. International League (Triple-A) Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays) outfielder Alan Roden batted .354/.411/.594 and led the league in hits (34) and total bases
Aviators® INF/OF Logan Davidson Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (August 26 - September 1)
(Las Vegas, NV) – September 2, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that infielder/outfielder Logan Davidson was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (August 26 – September 1). Davidson is the
Aviators® Host Round Rock Express in six-game homestand from Tuesday-Sunday, September 3-8 at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – August 31, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, will host the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers, in the opener of the six-game series on
Aviators® INF/OF Ryan Noda Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (August 12-18)
(Las Vegas, NV) – August 19, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that infielder/outfielder Ryan Noda was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (August 12-18). Noda is the fourth Aviators player
Aviators® Announce 2025 Regular Season Schedule; Home & Season Opener on Friday, March 28 vs. Reno Aces
Please Click Here For 2025 Schedule
Aviators® Joe Boyle Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (August 5-11)
(Las Vegas, NV) – August 12, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that Joe Boyle was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season (July 22-28 and
Aviators® host Oklahoma City Baseball Club in six-game homestand from August 13-18 at Las Vegas Ballpark®
(Las Vegas, NV) – August 10, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, will host the Oklahoma City Baseball Club, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the opener of the six-game series on Tuesday, August
Aviators® INF Jordan Díaz Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (July 29 - August 4)
(Las Vegas, NV) – August 5, 2024 – The Las Vegas Aviators® professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, today announced that infielder Jordan Díaz was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (July 29 – August 4). Díaz is the