Santos’ dream alive
The Saint Louis alumnus is trying to make the San Francisco Giants' roster
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. » As San Francisco superstar Barry Bonds prepared for a recent spring training game against the Colorado Rockies in the Giants' Scottsdale (Ariz.) Stadium clubhouse, a quiet, young prospect sat a handful of lockers away, bobbing his head to the tunes streaming from his iPod.
While most of the veterans in the room joked, played cards, or watched the NCAA Tournament, Chad Santos sat at his locker, visualizing a successful effort on the field.
The Saint Louis grad who made a three-game appearance at the Major League level last season is ready another helping.
"So far things are good, it seems like they like me, too," says Santos, who can play both at first base and in the outfield. "For baseball, that's all you can ask for is to perform out there, and have them like you."
Santos was drafted in the 22nd round of the 1999 draft out of high school, and signed a six-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. After that deal expired in 2005, Santos signed with the Giants as a free agent on a year-to-year basis.
He was called up to the majors last season to fill in for Lance Niekro, and while brief, Santos' showing -- which included a single in his first major league at-bat and a home run -- led to his being invited for a shot at making the team this year.
As he enters his eighth season in professional baseball, Santos' arduous trek through the minors is seemingly paying off.
"It's unreal; it's like night and day," says Santos of the jump from Triple-A Fresno to the Giants. "It was hard being a local boy and leaving home for the first time. Rookie ball was tough, just meeting different people with all their different languages. It got better as I got higher up, and got paid a little more. I've just been waiting for this (chance to prove myself).
"Just being here, this is the highest you can get," he adds. "It's unreal to walk past some guys and say, 'I saw you play when I was little.' I've just got to stay humble and act like I belong too."
While it is not a sure bet that he will make the opening-day roster, Santos is taking advantage of the chance to learn from some of the league's top-tier players and coaches; many of whom, including hitting coach Joe Lefebvre, have taking a liking to what the Kaneohe native has to offer.
"Pretty much all the veterans over here are cool, everyone's open and if you want to ask something, they'll let you know," Santos says. "It's a pretty good club. I've been on other teams where the older guys just stay away from everybody because of who they are. But with this bunch of guys, it's unbelievable; I trip out. They make millions, and they're superstars, but when you come in the clubhouse, everyone's the same. That's all you can ask for."
If Santos does have to start the year at Fresno, at least he will be comfortable. In 91 games with the Triple-A club last year, he drove in 70 runs, slugged 14 home runs, and collected 18 doubles. As far as competition goes, the Giants already have their starting lineup intact. So Santos hopes to fill one of the few reserve spots on the roster.
"I don't think I'm really competing with anybody. They already have their veteran guys," he says. "For me, I need to show them what I've got and just wait for that call. I think they've got it locked up with (Rich) Aurilla at first (base). So (if I get sent down), I'll just go to Triple-A, put up my numbers and make them call me up again."
During Santos' time in The Show, he connected with a few other local boys who have played in the majors. Santos keeps in touch with fellow Crusaders alum Brandon League, currently a relief pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays system, and also gets advice from Maui sensation Shane Victorino who patrols the outfield for Philadelphia. Ironically, Santos made his pro debut against the Phillies and was able to catch up with Victorino.
"It's kind of a small world, this baseball world," Santos says. "You meet a lot of people and see who goes and comes. It's pretty cool."
Through his journey both with the Royals organization and now the Giants, one of the only things Santos could truly count on was his family being there for him. He goes home in the offseason, but throughout the season, his wife Jessica, daughter Kamalani, and son Chad Jr. stay with him on every leg of the journey.
"Everywhere I go, they go too. That's the number one motivation, I do this for them," Santos says. "We just try to keep it family-style, and they love it too. It's nothing about baseball (for them); they just like getting away too. We have a truck, so we just pack up and dig out. My wife's good, and she's been doing it for a long time. She'll do everything on that side and I just play baseball; she makes my life easy."
As opening day nears, Santos is ready for the team's decision to either keep him on the roster or demote him back to Fresno. Either way, he will do the thing that has gotten him this far: be Chad Santos.
"Just keep playing hard, do my thing and stay within myself," says Santos of his approach to the game. "That's one thing I learned, you can't overdo it, or do things that you're not capable of. A lot of guys try to hit 50 home runs, and it's just not possible for me. I mean, you never know, but I'm just keeping it realistic."
