CARLOS SANTANA NEWS

Swats fourth homer Santana went 2-for-5 with one homer, one RBI and three runs scored in Friday's victory over the Mets.

Impact Santana launched a 409-foot blast in the eighth inning for his fourth home run of the season. The long ball was just the second for the 37-year-old veteran since April 7th. He finally looks as though he's over a lingering back injury that had bothered him for the past two weeks.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Three hits in return Santana went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Friday's 7-5 win over the Cardinals.

Impact The veteran switch hitter missed the Pirates' last three games due to back trouble, but he seemed 100 percent healthy in Friday's comeback victory. Santana hadn't had a multi-hit performance since May 4, however, so it's possible his back was an issue longer than he'd been letting on. Since the beginning of May, the 37-year-old is slashing just .193/.299/.301.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Santana provided the spark in Pirates' comeback win against the Cardinals After missing the entirety of the Pirates’ road series against the San Francisco Giants due to lumbar spine muscular tightness, Carlos Santa...

JUNE 3, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Returns to lineup Santana (back) is starting at first base Friday against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Santana was forced to miss three games after exiting Sunday's game against Seattle with back tightness, but the 37-year-old first baseman will return to action Friday. Santana has been struggling at the plate as of late, slashing .176/.288/.294 over the past three weeks.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not yet ready to start Santana (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact He'll get a third consecutive game off while he contends with lumbar spine muscular tightness. Santana said earlier in the week that he expects to avoid a stint on the injured list, but the Pirates will likely wait until after Thursday's team off day before making a decision on his status one way or the other.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Tuesday Santana is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Giants, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Santana left Sunday's loss to the Mariners with a back injury, and while it's not expected to be a long-term issue, the veteran infielder will miss at least one more game while recovering. Connor Joe will be the first baseman in Santana's absence and hit third.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expects to avoid IL Santana (back) doesn't think he'll need a stint on the injured list, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Santana is not in the Pirates' lineup Monday after his back injury forced him from Sunday's game, but he said it's more of a scheduled day off and he hopes to be ready "in the next couple of days." The veteran first baseman has a .678 OPS with three home runs in 49 contests this season.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out with back injury Santana (back) is absent from the lineup Monday in San Francisco, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Santana had to depart Sunday's game in Seattle with due to lumbar spine muscular tightness, so it's not a surprise he's not ready to play Monday. Connor Joe will be at first base.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with injury Santana was removed from Sunday's game against the Mariners due to lumbar spine muscular tightness, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Santana went 0-for-2 with a walk to begin Sunday's matchup, but he was replaced defensively in the bottom of the sixth inning. He's being examined and treated following his removal, and it's unclear whether he'll be available for Monday's series opener in San Francisco. If Santana is sidelined, Connor Joe could see increased time at first base with Ji-Man Choi (Achilles) still on the 60-day injured list.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers against old team Santana went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-6 win over the Mariners.

Impact Santana spent part of 2022 with the Mariners, launching 15 homers in 79 contests with the club. His power didn't follow him to Pittsburgh -- this was his third homer in 198 plate appearances as a Pirate, though he's maintained a near-everyday role at first base. He's shown some life lately by hitting safely in nine of his last 12 games, but he hasn't logged a multi-hit effort since May 4. Santana is slashing .234/.328/.368 with 24 RBI, five stolen bases, 20 runs scored and a still-solid but career-worst 12.6 percent walk rate in 47 games this season.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting back on track Santana went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Tigers.

Impact Santana did his damage in the seventh inning, driving in a run with a double prior to also coming around to score. He entered Wednesday's game having collected only seven hits across 43 at-bats in May, though he now has a double in each of his last two games. Santana continues to serve as the Pirates' cleanup hitter, which has helped him rack up 22 RBI across 40 games on the campaign.

MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting defensive: Pirates' Carlos Santana has been quietly impressive on other side of the ball The Pirates acquired Carlos Santana for his offense and leadership, but his defense has been really good thus far.

MAY 15, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Swipes fourth bag Santana went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a steal in Sunday's loss against the Blue Jays.

Impact Santana drove in Pittsburgh's lone run Sunday with an RBI single in the eighth inning. He also snagged his fourth stolen base of the year, swiping second on the backend of a double steal. The 37-year-old veteran is a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts this year after not attempting a steal in 131 games last season. While Santana shouldn't be counted on as a long-term speed threat, he's provided some value with the bat, slashing .263/.346/.407 with two homers, 14 runs scored and 20 RBI through 136 plate appearances this season.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Berríos K's Santana in the 6th | 05/06/2023 José Berríos strikes out Carlos Santana for the last out in the bottom of the 6th inning

MAY 7, 2023 • MLB.COM

Comeback effort falls short Santana went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in Thursday's 3-2 loss against Tampa Bay.

Impact Santana spearheaded the Pirates' ninth-inning rally, plating Tucupita Marcano and Bryan Reynolds with a double off Jason Adam to bring Pittsburgh to within one. However, the first basemen would not advance past second base, as Connor Joe struck out to end any hopes of a Pirates victory. Santana is now up to 19 RBI on the season, despite only having two homers, and is tied for fourth in MLB with 11 doubles.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Piling up RBI Santana went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI Friday against the Reds.

Impact Santana doubled in an insurance run in the seventh inning with his only hit of the game. After a slow start to the season, he has at least one hit in 11 of his last 15 starts. In that same span, he's homered twice, driven in 12 and scored eight runs all while hitting .304. Santana is locked into a near-everyday role as the Pirates' cleanup hitter.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Suwinski homers twice, Pirates beat skidding Rockies 5-3

Jack Suwinski homered twice and drove in three runs, Vince Velasquez recovered from a rough start to pitch six solid innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Colorado 5-3, sending t...

APRIL 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gets first off day Friday Santana isn't starting Friday against the Cardinals.

Impact After going 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI in Thursday's contest, Santana will enjoy his first off day of the season Friday. Ji-Man Choi will take over at first base, moving Andrew McCutchen into the DH spot and Canaan Smith-Njigba into right field to start and bat seventh.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Walker's 12-game hitting streak ends in 5-0 loss to Pirates

St. Louis rookie Jordan Walker’s hitting streak ended at 12 games when he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Cardinals’ 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates

APRIL 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Julks hits first homer, Urquidy shines as Astros top Pirates

José Urquidy scattered two hits over six innings, rookie Corey Julks hit the first home run of his big league career and the Houston Astros rolled by the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-0

APRIL 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates SS Oneil Cruz fractures left ankle, out indefinitely

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is out indefinitely after fracturing his left ankle in a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugs second homer Santana went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Friday against the White Sox.

Impact Santana started a big offensive day for the Pirates with a solo shot in the second inning off Lucas Giolito. It was his second home run in as many games, though he still has only four hits across 27 at-bats on the season.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats first homer Santana went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run and two RBI in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The 36-year-old switch hitter put together a vintage performance as he displayed his patience while also launching his first homer as a Pirate. Santana hasn't hit above .214 in any of the last three seasons but has been able to maintain a solid OBP, and the early returns in Pittsburgh have been more of the same as he's gone 4-for-23 (.174) with a 3:6 BB:K in six games.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates finish sweep of Red Sox behind Keller and Santana

Mitch Keller struck out seven, Carlos Santana homered and Bryan Reynolds knocked in his seventh run of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Red...

APRIL 5, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slow start to season Santana went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Impact Santana has been in the lineup for all five of Pittsburgh's games to this point, though Tuesday marked his fourth hitless effort. He doesn't appear to be at particular risk of losing playing time, given that he has yet to be moved out of the cleanup spot. The Pirates have had a more stable lineup as compared to 2022, but if Santana continues to struggle he could enter into a rotational role at a combination of first base and designated hitter.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE