Carlos Santana helping Philly catch on

Nine years ago, in what must feel like a distant life for Carlos Santana, the current first baseman of the Philadelphia Phillies was a highly-rated catching prospect. He broke into the majors with a talented, young group of players in Cleveland that many felt would someday bring a championship to “The Land.”

Santana, Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Luis Valbuena were all under the age of 25 in 2010. The following season, when current Indians Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall were promoted, the Indians jumped from fourth place to second in the American League Central division.

The Tribe bounced between second and fourth place for the four years that followed until they finally put it all together in 2016, reaching Game Seven of the World Series with Santana as their designated hitter. Cleveland lost to the Cubs but repeated as division champs in 2017, when Santana was named the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year – at first base.

After his strong 2017 performance, Santana had the chance to become an unrestricted free agent before his age-32 season. Unlike many veterans this past winter, Santana received an offer he liked early and signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Phillies in mid-December.

A look around the Phillies roster feels very similar to the one Santana joined eight years ago in Cleveland.

Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Jorge Alfaro and Scott Kingery are the talented young nucleus now, however. Santana was signed for not only solid defense and his usual 20-plus home runs and 80-100 RBI, but also to be a guiding personality in the clubhouse.

And he’s done just that.

Santana has also taken on an active leadership role with younger players like Alfaro, Franco and Herrera, helping to guide them through the inevitable rough stretches that come during a 162-game schedule.

In his first season fully taking on the catching duties in Philadelphia, Alfaro didn’t immediately get the job to the degree many expected. But between innings and after games, Santana has offered timely advice to the 25-year-old Colombian backstop.

“As a former catcher, being able to talk to Carlos has been a big help to me this year.” Jorge Alfaro

Before a recent game in Chicago, the first two Phillies on the field were first base coach Jose Flores and Santana. Santana took a knee to field grounders from Flores, almost back in the position he would have used behind the plate. He then moved to the infield and worked on making throws to second base.

Eventually the rest of the young Phillies roster came out for batting practice and it was clear that the 32-year-old’s work ethic was noticed. Already sweating from the nearly-20 minutes of field work he had already put in, Santana greeted each player as they exited the visitors’ dugout on the first base line at Wrigley and the group collected at the batting cage to take reps.

Santana’s first set of swings targeted the left field line. His second were all line drives back through the box to center. And his third set were all shots to right.

Between his turns in the cage, Santana talked to Franco, Alfaro and outfielders Nick Williams and Aaron Altherr about what they were doing in the cage. Occasionally he would speak up while his teammates took their swings.

The Phillies have been one of the surprise teams to many around baseball this year. They’re in the mix for a playoff spot and could be a factor down the stretch. As their young core comes together, they’re learning from someone who’s been there before.

For Santana, being part of a young team working to perfect a winning formula isn’t new. But this time he’s a veteran leader of the youth movement.

Featured Image: Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport

Inset Images: La Vida Baseball