Tony Santillan, the Cincinnati Reds 2nd round draft pick from 2015, has gotten out to an outstanding start for the Billings Mustangs this season. The 19-year-old right handed pitcher has made just three starts, but the results have been outstanding.
The Texas native is working on a limited pitch count. In his first start he was held to 75 pitches, while that’s been bumped up to 80-85 in the last two starts. Those pitch counts have limited Tony Santillan to just 13.1 innings pitched, but they’ve been dominant.
In his first start of the season he allowed one run in 4.2 innings pitched with one walk and eight strikeouts. In the second start he allowed one run in 4.0 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. He saved the best for the third start, allowing two runs in 4.2 innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts. In total he’s struck out 27 batters with just four walks in 13.1 innings.
His 18.2 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched is incredible. He’s faced 55 batters this season and struck out 49% of them. He’s simply overmatching the opposition at this point of the year for the Mustangs.
Santillan has thrown 156 strikes this season in three starts. 103 of those strikes have been swung at and not put in play (either swinging strikes or fouls). Those 103 strikes that have been swung at but not put in play represent 43% of the total pitches he’s thrown this season.
While it’s only been three games and just 13.1 innings, I can’t recall a more dominant stretch since I began covering the farm system. With that said, it may not be time to promote him. If he’s being limited to 80-85 pitches per start then sending him to Dayton may not work. The rookie ball rosters are larger than the full-season rosters. That gives them larger bullpens to work with, and more equipped to handle starters only throwing 4-5 innings at a time.
Roster moves aplenty
Yesterday the Cincinnati Reds made more than a few roster moves throughout the system.
- RHP Junior Arias was promoted from Billings to Dayton.
- RHP Jeremy Kivel was promoted from Dayton to Daytona.
- El’Hajj Muhammad was promoted from Daytona to Pensacola.
- IF Kyle Parker was released.
- RHP Kevin Shackelford was promoted from Pensacola to Louisville.
- RHP Keyvius Sampson was promoted from Louisville to Cincinnati (today).
- RHP JJ Hoover was optioned from Cincinnati to Louisville (today).
Jermaine Curtis is a Triple-A All-Star
The International League has released their All-Star squad for 2016 and Jermaine Curtis is the lone representative from the Louisville Bats. The infielder has hit .285/.406/.420 this season for the Bats in 246 plate appearances. He’s walked more than he’s struck out (32 to 30) and has four steals to go with nine doubles and six home runs.