The Cleveland Guardians can always trust their veterans.
Despite being 39 years old and in the midst of his 16th full season in the Major Leagues, Carlos Santana is still a force to be reckoned with.
He’s currently the sixth-oldest active player in the Majors, yet, unlike most of the guys ahead of him on that list, he’s still playing every day.
More impressively, he’s currently riding an 11-game hitting streak, and, as reported by Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com, that has put him in a privileged position in franchise history:
“Santana’s 11-game hitting streak is his longest since a 12-gamer with Milwaukee in 2023,” Hoynes wrote. “In franchise history he is one of four players to have hitting streaks of 11 or more games at 39 or older. Eddie Murray (11-gamer, 1996), Nap Lajoie (11-gamer, 1914) and Sam Rice (16-gamer, 1934) are the others. Murray and Lajoie are Hall of Famers.”
Santana has gone 17 for 38 (.447) with three home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.299 OPS during the hitting streak.
He’s usually been a slow starter, and that was the case again this season when he hit just .219 with two dingers and seven RBI across March and April before getting hot.
Even so, Stephen Vogt has always had him in the middle of the lineup because he knows that even when he’s struggling at the plate, he will always give the team an opportunity.
As dependable as they come, the switch-hitter has recorded 331 home runs with 1,309 walks in his career.
He’s second all-time in franchise history with 912 walks, just 96 behind the legendary Jim Thome.
He’s currently 47th on the league’s all-time walk list.
Santana isn’t getting any younger, and he won’t be there for much longer.
But so far, he’s played in 54 of 58 games at either first base or DH, and hopefully, he will continue this hot streak for a little longer.
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