Benito Santiago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Benito Santiago |
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Santiago with the Florida Marlins in 1993
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: March 9, 1965 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| debut | |||
| September 14, 1986, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 11, 2005, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 217 | ||
| Runs batted in | 920 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Benito Santiago Rivera (born March 9, 1965) is a former Puerto Rican professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 20 seasons, from 1986 to 2005. He is best known for his time with the San Diego Padres.
During his career, Benito Santiago won four Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards. He was also chosen for the All-Star Game five times. Many considered him the top catcher in the National League while he played for the Padres. In 2015, he was honored by being added to the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.
Contents
Benito Santiago's Baseball Journey
Starting His Career with the Padres
Benito Santiago began his professional baseball journey when the San Diego Padres signed him in 1982. After playing four seasons in the minor leagues, he made his big league debut with the Padres in September 1986. He was just 21 years old.
In his first full season in 1987, Santiago set a new record for rookies. He got a hit in 34 games in a row. This was also the longest hitting streak ever by a catcher in MLB history. He finished that year with a .300 batting average, which was a career high for him.
Santiago was chosen as the National League Rookie of the Year in 1987. Even though he was still learning to play defense, his great hitting earned him the 1987 Silver Slugger Award. This award goes to the best offensive player at each position.
At first, Santiago was known for his hitting, but he quickly became famous for his strong defense. He was especially good at throwing out players trying to steal bases, even from a kneeling position. In 1988, he led all National League catchers in assists and caught 45% of baserunners trying to steal. The league average was only 30%.
Santiago won his first of three Gold Glove Awards in 1988 for his excellent defense. He also earned his second straight Silver Slugger Award. The Padres team improved, finishing third in their division. He continued to win the Gold Glove Award in 1989 and 1990, showing how skilled he was behind the plate.
In 1989, even though his hitting average was lower, his strong defense helped him become the starting catcher for the All-Star Game. In 1990, he was hitting very well before an injury made him miss six weeks. He still finished the season with good numbers and won his third Silver Slugger Award and third Gold Glove Award.
Before the 1991 season, Santiago wanted a long-term contract. He ended up with a one-year deal. Despite some challenges, he led all catchers in the league with 100 assists. He also had a career-high 87 runs batted in. In 1992, he signed another one-year contract, becoming the highest-paid catcher in baseball at the time.
From 1991 to 1994, Santiago wore a jersey with the number 09. This was very unusual because most players don't have a zero before their number.
Playing for Other Teams
In 1992, Benito Santiago joined the new Florida Marlins team. He hit the very first home run in the team's history. After two seasons, he moved to the Cincinnati Reds in 1995. He then played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1996.
With the Phillies, Santiago made history by hitting a grand slam off famous pitcher Greg Maddux. He also hit a home run in four straight at bats that season. He finished 1996 with a career-high 30 home runs and 85 runs batted in.
Santiago then played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998. He missed most of the 1998 season due to an injury from a car accident. After that, he played for the Chicago Cubs in 1999 and returned to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000.
Success with the San Francisco Giants
Benito Santiago joined the San Francisco Giants in 2001. He played in 133 games and helped the Giants finish second in their division. He also received the Willie Mac Award for his team spirit and leadership.
In 2002, Santiago had another great year. He played in 126 games and had a very good fielding percentage of .995. He was selected for his fifth All-Star Game. He finished the season with a .278 batting average and 74 runs batted in. The Giants earned a wild card spot in the playoffs.
In the 2002 playoffs, the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves and then the St. Louis Cardinals. Santiago hit two home runs and had 6 runs batted in during the series against the Cardinals. He was named the National League Championship Series MVP. The Giants then played in the 2002 World Series against the Anaheim Angels. Santiago contributed 5 runs batted in, but the Giants lost in a close seven-game series.
In 2003, at 38 years old, Santiago continued to play well. He hit behind superstar Barry Bonds in the batting order. He played in 108 games and had a .279 batting average with 56 runs batted in.
Final Years and Hall of Fame
In 2004, Benito Santiago signed with the Kansas City Royals. He was hitting well before a pitch broke his hand. After that season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played only a few games for the Pirates before signing a minor-league contract with the New York Mets. He retired from playing in the major leagues after the 2005 season.
On August 8, 2015, Benito Santiago was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his amazing career with the team.
Career Highlights and Statistics
Over his 20-year career in Major League Baseball, Benito Santiago played in 1,978 games. He had 1,830 hits in 6,951 at bats, giving him a career batting average of .261. He also hit 217 home runs and had 920 runs batted in. His on-base percentage was .307.
Santiago was known for his strong defensive skills as a catcher. He led National League catchers three times in assists. He also led once in fielding percentage and once in throwing out baserunners who tried to steal. By 2010, he was tied for eighth all-time in the number of games caught, with 1,917 games.
Personal Life
Benito Santiago has a son named Benito Santiago Jr.. His son is also a professional athlete, playing basketball in Puerto Rico for the Mets of Guaynabo in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career putouts as a catcher leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
- San Diego Padres award winners and league leaders
