Hector Santiago

Héctor Felipe Santiago, born on December 16, 1987, in Newark, NJ, embarked on his professional baseball career after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 30th round of the 2006 MLB Draft. His early years in the minor leagues saw him transition from primarily a bullpen pitcher to a starter, a move that significantly shaped his MLB trajectory. Santiago made his Major League Baseball debut with the White Sox on July 6, 2011. He quickly established himself as a reliable left-handed pitcher, often splitting time between starting and relieving roles, demonstrating adaptability throughout his career.

Santiago played for several MLB teams, including the Chicago White Sox (2011–2013, 2018, 2019), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2014–2016), Minnesota Twins (2016–2017), New York Mets (2019), and Seattle Mariners (2021). A notable highlight was his selection to the American League All-Star team in 2015 while with the Angels, a testament to his strong performance that year where he achieved career highs in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Beyond his MLB contributions, Santiago has been an active participant in the Puerto Rican Winter League, playing for teams like Gigantes de Carolina and Criollos de Caguas, where he earned accolades such as PWL Comeback Player of the Year and PWL Pitcher of the Year in 2020. He has also represented the Puerto Rico national baseball team, winning a silver medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Throughout his career, Santiago has been involved in charitable activities, supporting “Santiago’s Soldiers,” a charity focused on aiding inner-city children in the United States. He also actively contributed to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and provided support after earthquakes in January 2020. His professional journey reflects a dedicated athlete committed to both his sport and community service, continually adapting to different team roles and off-season responsibilities.