While Dennis Santana was putting together an impressive 2018 campaign that began with Double-A Tulsa and took him to Triple-A Oklahoma City, that he made his MLB debut on June 1 nonetheless was a mild surprise.
However, a rash of injuries to the Dodgers pitching staff required the club to tap into their Minor League depth. Although a starter by trade, Santana joined the Dodgers as a relief pitcher.
Despite allowing five runs on six hits over 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, he earned a win in his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies. Santana was next due to make his first start in the Majors but was scratched minutes before first pitch.
He’s since been sidelined with a right rotator cuff strain. But now the 22-year-old prospect is due to return to the mound. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, Santana will make a rehab start for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in a California League playoff game:
Per a source, Dennis Santana will make a rehab start Friday with Rancho Cucamonga. One perk of getting all your minor league affiliates into the postseason.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) September 5, 2018
Santana only recently threw his first bullpen session since suffering his injury. He faced live batters for the first time just last week.
While the right-hander is beginning a rehab assignment, it would appear unlikely Santana is activated off the 60-day disabled list before season’s end. Assuming that to hold true, he finished the 2018 season a combined 1-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 10 starts for the Drillers and OKC.
