Suspended Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana reported last week for extended spring training in Fort Myers.
According to the Pioneer Press, Santana, who’s serving an 80-game steroid suspension, has been keeping himself in shape at his offseason home in Clearwater, Florida.
Reporting to extended spring training will give Santana a chance to ramp up his preparations in advance of a rehab assignment that could last for 30 days.
Ervin Santana – remember him – update, per Antony: working out in Ft. Myers gearing up for a 16-day rehab stint starting mid-June. #mntwins
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 19, 2015
According to the Pioneer Press, Twins general manager Terry Ryan has said he didn’t think Santana would need more than three rehab starts to get himself ready for the second half of the season.
He signed a four-year $55 million deal with the Twins in December, his suspension was announced on April 3 – three days before the Twins opened the season in Detroit.
Santana was 14-10 last season with the Atlanta Braves. In his career, he has 119 Major League victories since 2005 and has struck out more than 1,500 hitters in nearly 1,900 innings.
Before the suspension he was having a solid spring. Santana made five Grapefruit League starts this spring and was 3-1 with a 1.89 earned run average. In 19 innings, Santana allowed a 0.89 WHIP, struck out 12 and held opponents to a .215 batting average.
If the Twins can keep playing at the same clip Santana could provide the pitching staff with a boost heading into the second half of the season.
The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.#VinceLombardi
— Ervin Santana (@ErvinSantana_54) May 15, 2015
