Nathanael Santiago

Nathanael Santiago

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.

• High School Deerfield Beach High School

• Born March 3, 1990 in Atlixco, Puebla Mexico

BR register page

Biographical Information

Nathanael Santiago has pitched in the Mexican League and for the Mexican national team.

Santiago was undrafted out of high school and worked as a carpenter for several years. The San Francisco Giants were impressed enough by his talent to sign him a few months before he turned 25, though, giving him a late start to a pro career. He split the summer between the Augusta GreenJackets (2-1, 4.30 in 9 G) and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (1-2, 3.07 in 16 G), striking out 75 in 70 1/3 IP for a fine pro debut.

San Francisco did not keep him around for a second season but they had given him the springboard into the pro ranks. In 2016, he went to his homeland of Mexico and pitched for the Mexico City Red Devils (6.20 ERA in 28 G). In the winter, he excelled for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo (0-1, 2.28 in 21 G).

In the summer of 2017, he became the closer for the Red Devils, going 2-4 with 25 saves and a 3.66 ERA. He tied former major leaguer José Valverde for 4th in the Mexican League in saves. He split the winter between Hermosillo (Sv, 2.95 in 17 G) and the Yaquis de Obregón (2 UER in 4 2/3 IP). He began 2018 well with the Red Devils then joined Mexico for the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. He only pitched one game, in a 9-1 loss to host Colombia. Relieving Juan Noriega in the 6th, he allowed a hit and walk and threw a wild pitch, allowing one run in a 1/3 of an inning; Thomas Melgarejo took over. His 27.00 ERA tied David Reyes for Mexico's highest. He tied Reyes, Leyson Séptimo, Abdiel Velasquez and Héctor Mayora for the highest ERA in the Games.