Future Watch: Antonio Santillan, Rookie Baseball Cards, RedsFuture Watch: Antonio Santillan, Rookie Baseball Cards, Reds – Selected 49th overall by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft, Antonio Santillan has a winning history. He was drafted at the age of 18 out of Seguin High School in Arlington,Texas.

Now at 19, the 6′-3″, 240lb right-handed pitcher has pitched in 23 minor league games, 22 as a starter, most recently with the Dayton Dragons, the Class A affiliate of the Reds. Considering he started the year in rookie ball he is progressing nicely.

So far he has 103 strikeouts in 89 innings. That strikeout ratio is special. He has also walked 51, which is high. That’s clearly something he has to work on.

Santillan has already won some awards. He was the Connie Mack World Series MVP in 2014. Not only can this prospect throw gas but he has an impressive curve as well.

Antonio Santillan has a Chrome Prospect Autograph card in 2016 Bowman Chrome Baseball, card# BCAP-ASA, which is a redemption. If you can’t wait, he does have autographs in 2015 Leaf Metal Draft Baseball. Santillan also has (non-autographed) cards in 2015 Panini Elite Extra Edition,  2015 Bowman Draft and 2016 Topps Pro Debut.

According to his MLB.com draft profile:

The problem is that Santillan can’t hold his delivery together, often flying open and overthrowing. That causes his fastball to straighten out and his curve to lose its shape, and prevents him from keeping either pitch near the strike zone. He has yet to show much aptitude for throwing a changeup. ETA 2018

When you have a talent like this who’s a top ten player in your organization you have to be patient. The Reds are doing it the right way and they’ll correct the flaws in his delivery and probably teach him another pitch before he pitches in the big leagues.

Here’s a look at him throwing gas and popping the catcher’s glove:

Less than 1% of high school players ever get drafted. He’s already beaten those odds and now that he’s moving up in the Red’s farm system, collectors will see him in a few seasons, barring injury.

Future Watch: Antonio Santillan, Rookie Baseball Cards, Reds – Image Gallery

Russ Cohen

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