Luis Gustavo Santos Paulino (born February 11, 1991) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.
| Luis Santos | |
|---|---|
| Saraperos de Saltillo – No. 49 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1991-02-11) February 11, 1991 (age 31) Bonao, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 2, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2018 Season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1–2 |
| Earned run average | 4.97 |
| Strikeouts | 31 |
| Teams | |
| |
Santos signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as an international free agent in 2011. Assigned to the Dominican Summer League Pirates, he pitched to a 2–1 win–loss record, 2.70 earned run average (ERA), and 23 strikeouts in 231⁄3 innings.[1] In 2012, he played for both of Pittsburgh's DSL affiliates, and posted a combined 6–3 record, 2.44 ERA, and 74 strikeouts in 622⁄3 innings pitched.[1]
During the offseason, Santos was traded, along with Luis Rico, to the Kansas City Royals for Clint Robinson and Vin Mazzaro.[2] He split the season between the Rookie-level Burlington Royals and the Rookie Advanced Idaho Falls Chukars. In total, Santos made 10 starts and went 7–1 with a 1.97 ERA and 47 strikeouts.[1] Santos began the 2014 campaign with the Class-A Lexington Legends, and was promoted to the Advanced-A Wilmington Blue Rocks at mid-season. In 118 total innings, Santos pitched to an 8–5 win–loss record, 3.74 ERA, and 86 strikeouts.[1] In the offseason, he pitched for the Toros del Este of the Dominican Winter League.[1]
On April 2, 2015, Santos was released by the Royals.
He signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on April 6 and was assigned to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays.[3] He spent the entire season with Dunedin, going 6–6 with a 4.55 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 93 innings.[1] Santos split the 2016 season with Dunedin and the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In a career-high 127 innings pitched, he posted a 9–4 record, 3.97 ERA, and 117 strikeouts.[1] Santos continued his progression through the Toronto minor league system, spending the majority of 2017 with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. He went 3–13 with a 4.16 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 1142⁄3 innings.[1]
On September 2, 2017, Santos was called up by the Blue Jays.[4] He made his MLB debut that night, pitching 31⁄3 innings in Toronto's 7–2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.[5] He was outrighted to Triple-A on November 6, 2017,[6] and elected free agency the following day.[7] On December 4, Santos signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training.[8]
Santos was recalled on May 3, 2018 for the second game of a doubleheader in Cleveland.[9] He was designated for assignment the following day, and re-added to the active roster on July 4.[10] Santos declared free agency on October 9, 2018.[11]
On December 19, 2018, Santos signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.[12] He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[13]
On February 4, 2020, Santos signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League. Santos did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] On November 18, 2020, Santos was released by the Guerreros.
On May 5, 2021, Santos signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.[15]