Alimber Santa

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #29 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Santa signed late in the international free agent class of 2019-2020 and quickly transformed into one of the Astros’ highest-upside pitching prospects. Santa made a big velocity jump in spring of 2022, peaking at 98 mph on the backfields. He was assigned to Low-A Fayetteville to begin 2022 but an elbow injury in his first appearance forced him to the injured list for the remainder of the season. Santa returned to Fayetteville in 2023, making 26 appearances for the Woodpeckers. He racked up 119 strikeouts but walked 74 over 87.1 innings.
  
  Scouting Report: Santa’s fastball sits 94-95 mph and touches 97-98 at peak with heavy bore. Despite several good characteristics, Santa does not miss many bats with the pitch. His primary secondaries are a slider with heavy cut in the mid-80s and a two-plane curveball in the 78-81 mph range. Each pitch gets whiffs both in and out of the zone. Santa also throws a mid-80s changeup, but it’s rarely used. Santa’s command is well below-average and strike-throwing is the biggest question mark in the profile.
  
  The Future: Santa is likely a middle relief candidate if his command improves to fringe-average in the coming years.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 30

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A 2020 signee out of the Dominican Republic, Santa transformed from a skinny righthander sitting 88-91 mph, to a power pitcher up to 98 mph this spring. He was assigned to Low-A Fayetteville out of camp but was injured in his first appearance of the season. Scouting Report: Armed with a powerful one-two punch in his mid-90s fastball and high-spin breaking ball Santa can overpower lower levels hitters for stretches when he&#39s locked in. His fastball sits 94-95 mph touching 98 mph with late giddy-up as it reaches the plate. He commands his fastball well, living around the zone. While his breaking ball lags behind in this regard, showing inconsistent feel and shape, often landing as an easy take for opposing batters. He&#39s added a slider over the winter and it looks to be an improved look from his slower high-spin curveball. He&#39ll flash a mid-80s changeup but lacks feel for the pitch, struggling to land it in the zone. The Future: There&#39s a lot of projection in Santa&#39s quick right arm with a big time fastball but inconsistent feel for his secondaries Santa is a high variance prospect but one with time on his side at just 19 years old.