Yankees Top Prospect Countdown: #7 Ravel Santana

#7 – Ravel Santana

Bats: R                 Throws: R
Height: 6’2”       Weight: 160
D.O.B.: 5/1/92              Highest MiLB Level: Rookie League

Stats:
2009 (D.R. Summer League): .234/.355/.383; 203 PA, 167 AB, 31 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 8 SB, 26 BB, 43 K
2010 (D.R. Summer League): .322/.440/.533; 244 PA, 199 AB, 46 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 22 SB, 35 BB, 38 K
2011 (Rookie): .296/.361/.568; 185 PA, 162 AB, 43 R, 11 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 29 RBI, 10 SB, 17 BB, 40 K

Santana was picked up as an international free agent in 2009 at the age of 17 for just $145K. He has played all over the outfield, but he spent the 2011 season in center field, which is a good place for him given his speed, his strong arm, and his overall defensive abilities. He’s incredibly thin at 160 pounds (think back to an 18-year old Derek Jeter), but since Santana is only 19 years old right now he will have plenty of time in his early 20s to fill out his 6’2” frame.

Santana caught the eye of Baseball America back in September when he was named #2 on their list of Top-20 Gulf Coast League prospects (Santana was second only to another Yankees prospect, Dante Bichette Jr.). Unfortunately, Santana suffered a terrible ankle injury at the end of the GCL season; while attempting to steal a base his spikes got caught up resulting two breaks in his ankle and a number of torn ligaments. Pretty serious stuff. Hopefully the past few months have been kind to Santana and his ankle and he will not have to miss much of the 2012 season, if he has to miss any of it at all. Santana is definitely one to keep an eye on – with his youth, his size, and his incredible raw talents there is every indication that he has nowhere to go but up.

To see our prospect countdown so far, check out:
#10 – Slade Heathcott here,
#9 – J.R. Murphy here, and
#8 – Austin Romine here.