Hall of Fame slugger Jim Thome played 22 seasons in the major leagues.
13 of them were with the Cleveland Guardians, or Indians if we go by the name they had during his playing days.
He is a Cleveland baseball legend, with 337 home runs there plus multiple All-Star appearances and individual awards.
Thome is an authorized voice when talking about the Guardians.
On Monday, he was full of praise for a fellow Cleveland star, current first baseman Carlos Santana.
The 39-year-old Santana returned to Cleveland on a one-year deal and has been playing well.
Thome had nothing but good things to say about him in the Carlos Baerga Show.
“I know what he represents, not only to the organization but to his family,” Jim Thome said.
Jim Thome reflects on what it meant to have Carlos Santana as a teammate in Cleveland:
"I know what he represents, not only to the organization but to his family…"
– Jim Thome pic.twitter.com/VqMYw5oufO
— Carlos Baerga Show (@BaergaShow) April 14, 2025
Yes, the two played together in 2011 when Thome was a seasoned veteran nearing the end of his storied career and Santana was starting his.
Thome called Santana a great human being and a wonderful teammate, among other things.
He said Santana was never super vocal but was, and is, a great leader nonetheless.
Thome is a fan of ‘the way he goes about his work, the way he performs, and the way he roots for guys.’
Overall, Santana has been a positive influence on the Guardians on and off the field even if he isn’t lighting the world on fire at the plate.
For Cleveland fans, Santana represents competitiveness, professionalism, and work ethic.
He is widely respected, as Thome suggests.
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