Extra Bases: Santana credits Chapman for success here
Aroldis Chapman isn't here anymore, but Dennis Santana is still learning from his old friend.
Santana worked a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two, to earn his fifth save as the Pirates beat the Reds, 3-1, this afternoon at PNC Park, continuing a run in which he's been among the bullpen's best since arriving in Pittsburgh last summer: In 39 games last season, he had a 2.44 ERA, 11 holds, a .192 opponent batting average and a .92 WHIP. He's been even better this season, with a 1.77 ERA, .79 WHIP and .191 opponent batting average.
He credits Chapman, his teammate here in 2024, for the career rejuvenation. He picked up on Chapman's daily routine, waking up each day around 7 or 8 a.m., to go to the gym or work out at the ballpark before throwing, jumping, time in the hot tub, getting a massage, then resting ahead of the game. That consistent routine, he said, helps him remain focused and prepared to pitch.
"I know Aroldis is gone, but I keep doing the same thing," Santana said. "It’s been working so good. I have to keep doing the same routine every day, no matter how I feel, no matter if I pitch or not. I gotta come and do my workout and then if I gotta pitch, I go out there and do my best."
He's arguably been one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball since joining the Pirates. Consider these rankings among 99 relievers who've pitched at least 50 innings since June 13 of last year:
• .28% HR/9 (3rd) • .90 WHIP (7th) • 1.5 WAR (11th) • 63 2/3 IP (11th) • 1.98 BB/9 (14th) • 2.26 ERA (18th)
Before joining the Pirates, Santana never recorded a season-long ERA below 4.28 and never recorded a positive WAR before last season.
Santana won't blow hitters away with overpowering stuff. He limits walks -- his 4.2 walk percentage ranks in the 93rd percentile -- and he gets hitters to chase out of the zone with a 40.2 chase percentage that ranks in the 99th percentile. He’s also only given up two home runs since June 13, which is the third-fewest (2) among major-league relievers with at least 50 innings in that span.
He also has the mentality to be a high-leverage reliever, according to his teammates.
"I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever caught him and had him not be confident," Henry Davis said. "I couldn’t tell you if there’s a difference because he always has that level of intensity and belief in himself when he gets out there. It shows.”
"You have to have a short memory and Dennis has shown that," Ryan Borucki said. "He’s never really let a couple outings make him stumble or anything. He’s right back to business and he just does a really good job. He attacks the zone really well with all his pitches and he’s just aggressive in the zone."
"I’ve had my mindset right, especially in high leverage," Santana said. "I like to feel that pressure. I like to feel ‘Oh, you can’t miss here because they are going to make you pay.’ So, I like to go there, try to get ahead of the hitter and whatever happens, happens."
• When Oneil Cruz struck out looking at a fastball on the edge of the zone in the second inning, Don Kelly was seen chatting with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez. At one point he stepped out of the dugout before Gene Lamont pulled him back in. Take a look:
Kelly explained the situation: "I really wasn't chirping. I don't know if somebody was, it might have been from the stands, and he (Jimenez) turned over and looked in the dugout and I was just going out there to protect Oneil from anything that might happen. We need him in the game."
Kelly said Lamont simply told him "He's OK, he's OK," in reference to Cruz.
• Davis had a standout game. He went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. He also threw out a runner at second and made this nice tag at home on a relay throw from Isiah Kiner-Falefa:
"I knew it was going to be a close play, and anytime you can get a half step or get the runner to pull up, you've got a better chance to get him out," Davis said of his deke.
• Mike Burrows makes his first major-league start tomorrow in the Pirates' series opener against the Brewers. It will be his first major-league appearance since making his debut against the Yankees in the Pirates' second-to-last game last season.
"The goal's to get through at least five," Burrows said. "You want to be out there for a win. You don't want to go four and two thirds (innings), it's the worst. You're going out there to get five at least and try to give your team even more than that to save the bullpen."
• Carmen Mlodzinski was sent down to Class AAA Indianapolis when Burrows was called up. Kelly said Mlodzinski will continue to start in the minors and he'll be working on "a little bit of consistency."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
9:39 pm - 05.21.2025NORTH SHOREExtra Bases: Santana credits Chapman for success here
Aroldis Chapman isn't here anymore, but Dennis Santana is still learning from his old friend.
Santana worked a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two, to earn his fifth save as the Pirates beat the Reds, 3-1, this afternoon at PNC Park, continuing a run in which he's been among the bullpen's best since arriving in Pittsburgh last summer: In 39 games last season, he had a 2.44 ERA, 11 holds, a .192 opponent batting average and a .92 WHIP. He's been even better this season, with a 1.77 ERA, .79 WHIP and .191 opponent batting average.
He credits Chapman, his teammate here in 2024, for the career rejuvenation. He picked up on Chapman's daily routine, waking up each day around 7 or 8 a.m., to go to the gym or work out at the ballpark before throwing, jumping, time in the hot tub, getting a massage, then resting ahead of the game. That consistent routine, he said, helps him remain focused and prepared to pitch.
"I know Aroldis is gone, but I keep doing the same thing," Santana said. "It’s been working so good. I have to keep doing the same routine every day, no matter how I feel, no matter if I pitch or not. I gotta come and do my workout and then if I gotta pitch, I go out there and do my best."
He's arguably been one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball since joining the Pirates. Consider these rankings among 99 relievers who've pitched at least 50 innings since June 13 of last year:
• .28% HR/9 (3rd)
• .90 WHIP (7th)
• 1.5 WAR (11th)
• 63 2/3 IP (11th)
• 1.98 BB/9 (14th)
• 2.26 ERA (18th)
Before joining the Pirates, Santana never recorded a season-long ERA below 4.28 and never recorded a positive WAR before last season.
Santana won't blow hitters away with overpowering stuff. He limits walks -- his 4.2 walk percentage ranks in the 93rd percentile -- and he gets hitters to chase out of the zone with a 40.2 chase percentage that ranks in the 99th percentile. He’s also only given up two home runs since June 13, which is the third-fewest (2) among major-league relievers with at least 50 innings in that span.
He also has the mentality to be a high-leverage reliever, according to his teammates.
"I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever caught him and had him not be confident," Henry Davis said. "I couldn’t tell you if there’s a difference because he always has that level of intensity and belief in himself when he gets out there. It shows.”
"You have to have a short memory and Dennis has shown that," Ryan Borucki said. "He’s never really let a couple outings make him stumble or anything. He’s right back to business and he just does a really good job. He attacks the zone really well with all his pitches and he’s just aggressive in the zone."
"I’ve had my mindset right, especially in high leverage," Santana said. "I like to feel that pressure. I like to feel ‘Oh, you can’t miss here because they are going to make you pay.’ So, I like to go there, try to get ahead of the hitter and whatever happens, happens."
• When Oneil Cruz struck out looking at a fastball on the edge of the zone in the second inning, Don Kelly was seen chatting with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez. At one point he stepped out of the dugout before Gene Lamont pulled him back in. Take a look:
Kelly explained the situation: "I really wasn't chirping. I don't know if somebody was, it might have been from the stands, and he (Jimenez) turned over and looked in the dugout and I was just going out there to protect Oneil from anything that might happen. We need him in the game."
Kelly said Lamont simply told him "He's OK, he's OK," in reference to Cruz.
• Davis had a standout game. He went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. He also threw out a runner at second and made this nice tag at home on a relay throw from Isiah Kiner-Falefa:
"I knew it was going to be a close play, and anytime you can get a half step or get the runner to pull up, you've got a better chance to get him out," Davis said of his deke.
• Mike Burrows makes his first major-league start tomorrow in the Pirates' series opener against the Brewers. It will be his first major-league appearance since making his debut against the Yankees in the Pirates' second-to-last game last season.
"The goal's to get through at least five," Burrows said. "You want to be out there for a win. You don't want to go four and two thirds (innings), it's the worst. You're going out there to get five at least and try to give your team even more than that to save the bullpen."
• Carmen Mlodzinski was sent down to Class AAA Indianapolis when Burrows was called up. Kelly said Mlodzinski will continue to start in the minors and he'll be working on "a little bit of consistency."
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