Dominican Republic baseball player of the week: Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana of the Angels is this weeks Dominican Republic Baseball Player of the Week.  Interestingly, this is the first time that Santana has appeared on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  The Dominican Baseball Guy was thinking that this may be due to the fact that he is new to the big leagues, but he has actually been a pretty successful major leaguer for eight seasons.

He has been in the top ten in the American League in wins three times, and has consistently eaten up innings for the Angels.  He made one All-Star team back in 2008.  Overall, the Dominican Baseball Guy assesses Santana as a very good middle of the rotation to end of the rotation starter.  I liken him to another Dominican pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez of the Astros, as far as overall skill as a starting pitcher.

Santana is having not the best year.  Through Monday, he had a 5.16 ERA and was 4-7.  He is still a middle of the rotation workhorse in any case, having pitched 89 innings in 14 starts.

With this said, he wins the Dominican Republic baseball player of the week this week due to his one-hitter against the Diamondbacks.  He pitched 6 and 2/3 innings of perfect baseball, and got the shutout victory for the ultra-hot Angels.

Santana also threw a no-hitter last season.  He is from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic baseball player of the week Ervin Santana,
photo by Keith Allison on Flickr