View source for Johan Santana

{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player (born 1979)}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{family name hatnote|Santana|Araque|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name        = Johan Santana
| image       = Johan Santana on May 5, 2012.jpg
| width       = 250
| caption     = Santana with the New York Mets in 2012
| position    = [[Pitcher]]
| team        = 
| number      = 
| bats        = Left
| throws      = Left
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|3|13}}
| birth_place = [[Tovar Municipality, Mérida|Tovar]], [[Venezuela]]
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate   = April 3
| debutyear   = 2000
| debutteam   = Minnesota Twins
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate   = August 17
| finalyear   = 2012
| finalteam   = New York Mets
| statleague  = MLB
| stat1label  = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value  = 139–78
| stat2label  = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value  = 3.20
| stat3label  = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value  = 1,988
| teams       = 
*[[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2007}})
*[[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2010}}, {{mlby|2012}})
| awards      = 
* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2005 MLB All-Star Game|2005]]–[[2007 MLB All-Star Game|2007]], [[2009 MLB All-Star Game|2009]])
* 2× [[Cy Young Award|AL Cy Young Award]] (2004, 2006)
* [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] (2006)
* [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Award]] (2007)
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|MLB wins leader]] (2006)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|ERA leader]] (2004, 2006, 2008)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|AL strikeout leader]] (2004–2006)
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on June 1, 2012
* [[Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame]]
|hofcolor = #ffd700
|hoflink = Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = Venezuelan
|hofdate = [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum#2022|2022]]
|hofvote = 81%
|hofmethod = Contemporary Committee
}}

'''Johan Alexander Santana Araque''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|oʊ|h|ɑː|n}}; born March 13, 1979)<ref>{{cite web |title=Johan Santana Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santajo02.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=20 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Venezuela]]n former professional [[baseball]] [[starting pitcher]]. Santana pitched in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Minnesota Twins]] from 2000 to 2007 and for the [[New York Mets]] from 2008 to 2012. A two-time [[Cy Young Award]] winner with the Twins, Santana is a four-time All-Star and earned a [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|pitching triple crown]] in 2006. On June 1, 2012, Santana pitched the first [[no-hitter]] in New York Mets history against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].

==Professional career==
Santana was discovered in 1994 by Andres Reiner, who was a [[Scout (sport)|scout]] working for the [[Houston Astros]] at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan Santana – Mets Ace #57|url=http://www.johansantana.org/johan-santana-mets-ace-57|publisher=Johan Santana Foundation|access-date=June 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705051536/http://johansantana.org/johan-santana-mets-ace-57|archive-date=July 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes" /> Santana's parents agreed to let him attend Houston's academy in Valencia. When Astros scouting director Dan O'Brien called Reiner and asked if he had signed Santana to a contract, Reiner reported that he was still deciding if Santana was a better prospect as an outfielder or a pitcher. After six weeks of training, Santana was told he was going to pitch. Santana did not like it and almost left, but Reiner convinced him to stay. While originally a [[center fielder]], Santana was converted to a [[pitcher]] at the academy due to his arm speed. In 1999 he was named the Tovar Mérida Athlete of the Year.

=== Minnesota Twins ===
After the 1999 major league season, Santana was left unprotected by the [[Houston Astros]] and eligible in the [[Rule 5 draft]]. The [[Minnesota Twins]] had the first pick that year, the [[Florida Marlins]] had the second. The Twins made a deal with the Marlins: the Twins would draft Jared Camp with their first pick and the Marlins would draft Santana. The teams would exchange the two players with the Twins receiving $50,000 to cover their pick.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/sports/baseball/31scout.html?ei=5088&en=334dc68c9d6fc085&ex=1359435600&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print|title=Scout Listens to His Instincts, Not to His Boss, and Uncovers a Star|access-date=November 3, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2008|first=Jack|last=Curry|author-link=Jack Curry}}</ref>

Santana made his [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] debut with the Twins on April 3, 2000, coming from the bullpen vs. [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay]]. He made his first MLB start on April 7, 2000, at [[Kansas City Royals|Kansas City]] and recorded his first Major League win in a relief appearance at [[Houston Astros|Houston]] on June 6. He put up a 6.49 ERA in 86 innings pitched in 2000.

In 2002, the Twins sent Santana to the minors for 2 months to work almost exclusively on perfecting his [[changeup]]. He did this for 10 starts and came back up to the majors with a terrific changeup to complement his very good fastball. While in the minors, pitching coach [[Bobby Cuellar]] made Santana throw at least one changeup to every batter. According to Cuellar, Santana would sometimes throw 20 in a row during games.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-123329099.html|title=Twins' Johan Santana: thriving in his role as a starter: since joining Minnesota's rotation at mid-season in 2003, left-hander has developed into club's ace.|access-date=November 3, 2008 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

Santana was used as a long [[Relief pitcher|reliever]] early in his career after finding little success as a starter. In 2002, he led the majors in [[wild pitch]]es, with 15.

In 2003, Santana transitioned from relief to the Twins' starting rotation after spending the first four months of the season in the bullpen. He won his last eight decisions and pitched the ALDS opening game against the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]].

Due to Santana's early major-league success with the Twins, a young minor-league pitcher in the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim Angels']] [[farm system]] also named Johan Santana changed his name to [[Ervin Santana]] in 2003; he also achieved major league success. Santana underwent minor elbow surgery following the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/sections/sports/pro/article_579731.php|title=One Johan was enough|access-date=November 3, 2008|work=OCRegister.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804001218/http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/sections/sports/pro/article_579731.php|archive-date=August 4, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

====2004 season====
In {{mlby|2004}}, Santana had one of the great second half performances of the modern era. He became the first pitcher since [[1961 in sports|1961]] to give up four or fewer [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in 10 straight starts, and his 13–0 record broke the old Major League second-half mark shared between [[Burt Hooton]] and [[Rick Sutcliffe]].

Santana's other second-half numbers were equally impressive: 11.13 [[strikeouts per nine innings]], 1.21 [[Earned run average|ERA]], 4.74 [[hits per nine innings]], and 6.73 [[Baserunning|baserunners per nine innings]]. In addition, Santana set a team season record with 265 strikeouts, surpassing the old 258 mark registered by [[Bert Blyleven]] in 1973.

Santana finished in good form with a 20–6 record and led the [[American League]] (AL) in strikeouts (265), ERA (2.61), strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.46), [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]] (0.92), [[Opponents batting average|batting average allowed]] (.192), [[On-base percentage|OBP]] (.249), [[Slugging percentage|SLG]] (.315), and [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (.564) and [[Base on balls|walked]] only 54 batters in 228 innings. Opponents [[Stolen base|stole]] just six bases in seven attempts against him, and his 20 victories ranked him second behind only [[Curt Schilling]]'s 21. He easily won the [[Cy Young Award|AL Cy Young Award]] with all 28 first-place votes.

====2005 season====
Santana struggled in his first outing of 2005, giving up four runs in the first inning, but quickly regained his composure and returned to Cy Young-winning form in an 8–4 victory over the [[Seattle Mariners]]. In his second game, he recorded 11 strikeouts against the [[Chicago White Sox]] as the Twins won 5–2. Santana finished the season with an ERA of 2.87, second-lowest in the AL behind Indians pitcher [[Kevin Millwood]] (2.86). However, the weak Twins club of the 2005 season cost him several otherwise-winnable games, and his winning percentage fell considerably in his second full year as a starter. He threw 238 strikeouts during the season, leading the majors, and finished third in the Cy Young voting, finishing behind winner [[Bartolo Colón]] and [[closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Mariano Rivera]].

====2006 season====
[[Image:Johan Santana 20060602.jpg|thumb|upright|Santana pitching for the Twins on June 2, 2006]]
Santana won the pitching [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Major League Triple Crown]], the first pitcher to do so since [[Dwight Gooden]] in {{mlby|1985}}. He completed the season leading the majors in ERA (2.77) and strikeouts (245), and tied [[Chien-Ming Wang]] in wins (19). He became the first pitcher to win the triple crown with fewer than 20 wins, and the first to win it with an ERA above 2.60.

Santana also led the AL in WHIP (1.00), opposing batting average (.216), and innings pitched (233.2). He continued to add to his reputation as a great second-half pitcher, losing only one game after the All-Star break while winning 10 and posting a 2.54 ERA. A brief slump cost him the opportunity to make his 20th win of the season. No pitcher in Major League Baseball won 20 games in the 2006 season, the first time in modern major league history this occurred.

Santana won his second Cy Young Award in 2006, becoming the 14th player in MLB history to win the award multiple times. He became the fifth pitcher to win the award by a unanimous vote multiple times, joining [[Roger Clemens]], [[Pedro Martínez]], [[Greg Maddux]] and [[Sandy Koufax]], who accomplished the feat three times.<ref>{{cite news|title=Santana unanimous choice for AL Cy Young Award|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2664561|access-date=7 May 2018|work=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=16 November 2006}}</ref>

From 2004 to 2006, Santana led the league in strikeouts all three years, in ERA twice, and also led in several other key statistical areas. In this three-year span, he compiled a 55–19 record with an ERA of 2.75 and WHIP of 0.96, while striking out 748 batters.

====2007 season====
After a slow start, with his record falling to 6–6 at one point, Santana jump-started his season with a four-hit shutout, followed by two wins. On July 1, {{mlby|2007}}, Santana was named as a member of the [[2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2007 All-Star Game]], his third straight appearance. On June 19, 2007, on the team bus to a game at [[Shea Stadium]], Bert Blyleven said he would have his head shaved if that night's starting pitcher, Santana, threw a complete-game shutout. The Twins won, 9–0, and Santana went the distance on a four-hitter. Santana shaved Blyleven's head the following day.<ref name=shaved>{{cite news| last = Christensen| first = Joe| title = Punto doesn't care where he plays| work = [[Star Tribune]]| publisher = The StarTribune Company| date = June 20, 2007| url = http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/11699091.html| access-date = May 19, 2008}}</ref> Santana had perhaps his best career game on August 19 against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in which he struck out 17 batters over eight innings. He walked none and allowed only two hits, both to [[Sammy Sosa]]. His 17 strikeouts set a Twins club record for strikeouts in a game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200708190.shtml|title=Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins Box Score, August 19, 2007 - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> Santana's [[game score]] of 95 is the highest by any pitcher in MLB history in a non-complete game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/52-years-from-the-twins-junk-drawer/|title=52 years from the Twins junk drawer - The Hardball Times|website=www.hardballtimes.com|date=August 27, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref>

He led the major leagues in home runs allowed (33) and had the most losses of his career (13). Santana finished the season with only 15 wins, his lowest total since 2003. However, Santana led the AL in WHIP, was second in strikeouts with 235, and seventh in ERA. In the last game of the season, a rain delay in a road game against the [[Detroit Tigers]] that lasted over an hour caused Santana to pitch only three innings. This ended a 123 consecutive start streak in which he pitched five innings or more. This is the third-longest consecutive-game streak for a pitcher in the past half-century. In November, it was announced Santana was awarded the AL [[Gold Glove Awards|Gold Glove Award]] for pitcher, his first selection.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jordan | last=Bastian | url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071106&content_id=2293603&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | title=AL Gold Gloves show changing of guard | work=MLB.com | date=November 6, 2007 | access-date=November 6, 2007 | archive-date=April 3, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403222219/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071106&content_id=2293603&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also honored with a [[Fielding Bible Award]] as the best fielding pitcher in MLB,<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2007 Awards |url=http://www.billjamesonline.net/fieldingbible/the-2007-winners.asp |publisher=The Fielding Bible |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110102147/http://www.billjamesonline.net/fieldingbible/the-2007-winners.asp |archive-date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and finished 5th in the [[Cy Young Award|AL Cy Young Award]] voting.<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Cy Young Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2007.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |publisher=MLB}}</ref>

===New York Mets===

====2008 season====
On February 2, 2008, Santana was traded from the Twins to the New York Mets for [[Carlos Gómez]], [[Philip Humber]], [[Deolis Guerra]], and [[Kevin Mulvey]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080202&content_id=2362609&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |title=Santana trade finalized with physical |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB |date=February 2, 2008 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630075555/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080202&content_id=2362609&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Mets and Santana agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3226412|title=Santana agrees to $137.5M, 6-year contract with Mets|access-date=November 13, 2008 |work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=February 2008}}</ref> Santana was named the [[Opening Day]] starter, throwing 100 pitches in seven innings to earn the win against the [[Florida Marlins]]. On May 10, 2008, he earned his first win at Shea Stadium as a member of the New York Mets.
[[File:Johan Santana releasing a pitch in May 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Santana releasing a pitch in May 2008]]
On June 1, 2008, Santana earned his 100th career victory, going 7.2 innings and allowing one run in a 6–1 win over the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280601121|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209002639/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280601121|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2021|title=Dodgers vs. Mets – Recap – June 1, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[ESPN.com]]|date=June 1, 2008 }}</ref>

On July 27, the day after the Mets played a 14-inning game where every pitcher in the bullpen was used, Johan pitched a complete game, striking out five and getting his first RBI as a Met against the St. Louis Cardinals, improving his record to 9–7.  On August 17, 2008, Santana pitched his second complete game for his 11th win of the season, allowing only three hits while walking none and striking out 7 in a 3–0 Mets shutout over the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].

On September 23, Santana threw 125 pitches, a career-high to that point, in eight innings to beat the [[Chicago Cubs]]. On September 27, in the thick of a playoff race and on the final weekend of the season, Santana pitched a complete three-hit gem in a 2–0 win against the Florida Marlins on three days' rest.  It was later revealed that Santana had pitched that day, and perhaps in many other starts, with a torn [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]] in his left knee, for which he underwent successful surgery on October 1, 2008.

Santana finished the 2008 regular season with a 16–7 record, posting a 2.53 ERA with 206 strikeouts, which set a Mets' single-season record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher, breaking [[Jon Matlack]]'s 35-year record of 205 in {{mlby|1973}}.  His 2.53 ERA led the majors and was a career-best.  He also set a career-high in innings pitched and was undefeated in the second half of the season.  However, he was also the victim of seven blown saves, tying for first in the majors.<ref>Chuck, Bill. [http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/ 100 random things about the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees], ''[[The Boston Globe]]''. Published April 2, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2009.</ref>

Santana finished in third place in the NL Cy Young Award race behind [[Brandon Webb]] and winner [[Tim Lincecum]].

====2009 season====
On April 7, 2009, Johan Santana started the first game for the [[New York Mets]] in the [[2009 New York Mets season|2009 season]] against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. He went 5.2 innings allowing only one earned run, going on to win. In his second start on April 12, Santana struck out 13 batters and surrendered two unearned runs over seven innings against the [[Florida Marlins]] only to lose for the first time since June 28, 2008, against the [[New York Yankees]]. On August 25 Santana was placed on the 15-day [[disabled list]] and missed the remainder of the season after having to undergo season-ending [[arthroscopic]] [[surgery]] to remove bone chips in his left [[elbow]]. Santana finished the season at a record of 13–9 with a 3.13 ERA.<ref name="Disabled List">{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4421928|title=Santana, Putz both out for season|date=August 25, 2009|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com}}</ref>

In 2009, he was ranked number 3 on the ''[[Sporting News]]''{{'}} list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, behind [[Albert Pujols]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]]. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] and winners of major baseball awards, was polled to arrive at the list.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/45556307.html|title=Braun makes greatest list|date=May 20, 2009|first=Bob|last=Wolfley|work=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|access-date=September 4, 2009}}</ref>

====2010 season====
In a start on May 2, 2010, against [[2010 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia]], Santana gave up 10 runs in 3{{fraction|2|3}} innings, the worst start in his MLB career, surpassing his previous worst start on June 14, 2009, versus the Yankees, where he allowed nine runs and nine hits in just three innings. However, in the next five starts after that, Santana gave up only seven earned runs, striking out 21 and improving his record to 4–2 with a 3.03 ERA. On July 6, Santana hit his first major league home run off of [[Matt Maloney (baseball)|Matt Maloney]] of the [[2010 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]], which provided the Mets with their first run, and pitched a complete-game shutout to earn the win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Johan Santana Crushes First Career Home Run, Shuts Out Reds |url=https://nesn.com/2010/07/johan-santana-crushes-first-career-home-run-shuts-out-reds/ |access-date=4 October 2021 |work=NESN.com |date=7 July 2010}}</ref> From July 1 – 23, Santana was 3–0 with a 0.71 ERA in five starts. Santana, who was struggling to keep his 10–9 record through September 2, strained his pectoral muscle in a 65 pitch start versus Atlanta,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.espn.go.com/flb/resources/playernews?sportsId=4280|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504174313/http://games.espn.go.com/flb/resources/playernews?sportsId=4280|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 4, 2010|title=Santana strains pectoral muscle|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> for the second time in his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metsreport.com/report-mets-santana-injured-worse-than-thought/|title=Report: Mets Santana Injured Worse Than Thought|date=February 28, 2009|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> His last game of the season was a win against the [[Atlanta Braves]] on September 2. On September 14, he underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.<ref name=boston040512>{{cite news|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|title=Santana goes 5 innings, Mets beat Braves 1–0|url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-05/sports/31295027_1_citi-field-nl-east-new-york-mets|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118113448/http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-05/sports/31295027_1_citi-field-nl-east-new-york-mets|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|publisher=boston.com|access-date=June 2, 2012|date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> Santana ended his season with a record of 11–9 and an ERA of 2.98. This was the third consecutive year that Johan had gotten injured.

====2011 season====
Johan Santana missed the entire 2011 major league season while he recovered from anterior capsule surgery to his left shoulder (dominant), pitching only in the minors.<ref name=sportnews060212>{{cite web|last=Bahr|first=Chris|title=Johan Santana throws no-hitter for New York Mets; first in franchise history|url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-06-01/johan-santana-no-hitter-new-york-mets-st-louis-cardinals-tom-seaver|publisher=SportingNews|access-date=June 2, 2012|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605005259/http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2012-06-01/johan-santana-no-hitter-new-york-mets-st-louis-cardinals-tom-seaver|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2012 season====
[[File:Johan Santana on April 5, 2012.jpg|thumb|Santana in his return to the Mets]]
On April 5, 2012, Santana was tabbed as the Mets Opening Day starter. This marked the first time Santana pitched in the majors since September 2, 2010, when he tore the anterior capsule in his left shoulder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/santana_officially_mets_opening_b9dJlsvuN01217Ms6zY9GN|title=Santana officially Mets' opening day starter|date=April 1, 2012|access-date=April 1, 2012|first=Mike|last=Puma|work=NYPOST.com|publisher=New York Post}}</ref> He went five scoreless innings against the [[Atlanta Braves]], striking out five batters. On May 26, Santana pitched a complete game shut-out against the [[San Diego Padres]], the ninth of his career. He struck out seven over nine innings and improved to 2–2 with a 2.75 ERA over his first 10 starts. On June 30, in Dodger Stadium, he scattered three hits over eight shutout innings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2012/B06300LAN2012.htm |title=Retrosheet Boxscore: New York Mets 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 0 |website=www.retrosheet.org |access-date=April 11, 2021}}</ref> After three more starts, on July 21, Santana was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Mets after spraining his right ankle. Santana was again put on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his lower back on August 22. He did not pitch for the remainder of the 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan Santana Placed On 15-Day Disabled List; Is Not Expected To Pitch Again In '12|date=August 22, 2012|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/22/johan-santana-placed-on-15-day-disabled-list-is-not-expected-to-pitch-again-in-12/|publisher=CBS News New York|access-date=August 23, 2012}}</ref> Santana finished the season 6–9 with a 4.85 [[Earned run average|ERA]] and 111 [[strikeouts]] in 21 starts and 117 [[innings pitched]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan Santana Player Bio|url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=276371#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2012&level='MLB'|work=MLB.com|access-date=November 4, 2012|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102105216/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=276371#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2012&level='MLB'|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====No-hitter=====
On June 1, in only the 11th start since returning from shoulder surgery, Santana threw a no-hitter against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], the defending [[World Series]] champions. This was the first no-hitter in Mets franchise history, coming in their 51st season and 8,020th regular-season game. It marked only the eighth no-hitter in MLB history against a defending [[World Series]] champion team, the first since former Met [[Nolan Ryan#Seven no-hitters|Nolan Ryan]] blanked the [[Oakland Athletics]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryan Express: 6th No-Hitter; At 43, Extends Record, Beats A's|last=Prewitt|first=Eric|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 12, 1990|page=C1|quote=Nolan Ryan...extended his major league record by pitching a sixth no-hitter...leading the Texas Rangers to a 5–0 triumph over the World Series champion Oakland Athletics}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FINALLY! After 50 seasons, Johan Amazes Mets by delivering franchise's first no-hitter|last=McCarron|first=Anthony|date=June 2, 2012|page=32|quote=Santana got the Cardinals' David Freese to swing and miss at a changeup–what else?–for strike three, completing the first no-hitter in Mets' history in their 8,020th game, an 8–0 victory over the world champion St. Louis Cardinals|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref> Santana walked five batters, recorded eight strikeouts, and lowered his season ERA to 2.38. He also threw a career-high 134 pitches. Notable moments in the game included a liner in the sixth inning by former Met [[Carlos Beltrán]], which hit the foul line behind third base but was ruled foul. In the seventh inning, [[Mike Baxter (baseball)|Mike Baxter]] made a difficult catch in left field, preserving the no-hitter, and then violently crashed into the wall. He left the game with a bruised left shoulder and was subsequently placed on the [[Disabled list|DL]].<ref name=espn060212>{{cite web|last=Marchand|first=Andrew|title=Johan Santana tosses no-hitter|date=June 2, 2012|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7999246/new-york-mets-johan-santana-tosses-first-no-hitter-franchise-history|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Andrew|url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120603&content_id=32708768&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym|title=Mets place Baxter on DL, recall infielder Satin|work=www.mlb.com|access-date=June 3, 2012|date=June 3, 2012|archive-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605022717/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120603&content_id=32708768&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For throwing the no-hitter, Santana was named [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Player of the Week]] for the week ending June 3, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan Santana of the New York Mets named National League Player of the Week|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=June 6, 2012|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120604&content_id=32751622&vkey=pr_mlb&c_id=mlb}}</ref> It was his fifth such award and followed his teammate [[R. A. Dickey]] who won it the prior week.<ref>{{cite web|title=R. A. Dickey of the New York Mets named National League Player of the Week|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=June 6, 2012|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120529&content_id=32435538&vkey=pr_mlb&c_id=mlb}}</ref> His pitching feat earned him the [[Freedom of the City#Key to the City|Key to the City]], which was bestowed by Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan receives Key to the City from Bloomberg|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120622&content_id=33745668&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym|publisher=Mets.com|access-date=June 26, 2012}}</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, Santana's no-hitter is the only solo no-hitter by a Mets pitcher, although five Mets pitchers combined to no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 on April 29, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=No-hitters by club|date=June 3, 2017 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/no-hitters-by-club/c-36789098|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/123204/history-has-mets-fearing-the-no-hitter|title=Mets remember the cost of Johan Santana's no-hitter and fear a repeat|date=August 14, 2016|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

====2013 season====
Santana tore his [[Adhesive capsulitis of shoulder|shoulder capsule]] for the second time during early 2013. Surgery was performed on April 3, 2013, by Dr. David Altchek.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mets Starter Johan Santana Set For Season-Ending Surgery On Tuesday|date=March 30, 2013|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/30/mets-starter-johan-santana-set-for-season-ending-surgery-on-tuesday/|publisher=CBS News New York|access-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> He missed the entire 2013 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/69522/johan-visits-mets-while-in-new-york | title=Johan visits Mets at Citi Field | work=[[ESPN.com]] | date=June 14, 2013 | access-date=July 3, 2013 | author=Rubin, Adam}}</ref> On November 1, 2013, the Mets bought out his 2014 option for $5.5 million, making Santana a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/9908563/johan-santana-new-york-mets-buy-2014-option|title=Mets buy out Johan Santana|work=ESPN.com|author=Adam Rubin|date=November 1, 2013|access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

===Later career===
On March 4, 2014, Santana signed a minor league contract with the [[Baltimore Orioles]]. The contract included an invitation to Major League spring training,<ref>{{cite web|title=Baltimore Orioles Agree to Minor League Deal with Two-time Cy Young Winner Johan Santana (Updated)|url=http://www.sportsmedia101.com/baltimoreorioles/2014/03/04/baltimore-orioles-nearing-minor-league-deal-with-two-time-cy-young-winner-johan-santana/|access-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305093041/http://www.sportsmedia101.com/baltimoreorioles/2014/03/04/baltimore-orioles-nearing-minor-league-deal-with-two-time-cy-young-winner-johan-santana/|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Santana was due to earn $3 million if he made the Major League roster.<ref>{{cite web|title=Johan Santana signs with Orioles|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10549490/baltimore-orioles-sign-johan-santana-one-year-deal|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=March 4, 2014|date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> On June 6, Santana tore his [[Achilles tendon]] during an [[extended spring training]] start. He missed the rest of the [[2014 MLB season]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perry|first1=Dayn|title=Orioles' Johan Santana to miss rest of 2014 with torn Achilles'|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24582268/orioles-johan-santana-to-miss-rest-of-2014-with-torn-achilles|website=CBS Sports|access-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>

On February 26, 2015, Santana signed a minor league contract with the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-sign-johan-santana-minor-league-deal/|title=Blue Jays sign Johan Santana to minor-league deal|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=February 26, 2015|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> The contract would have paid him $2.5 million if he made the 25-man roster, and it included bonuses for active days and games started.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-make-health-first-priority-santana/|title=Blue Jays make health first priority for Santana|last=Davidi|first=Shi|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=February 27, 2015}}</ref> Santana started the season on the disabled list of the Triple-A [[Buffalo Bisons]] while rehabbing the shoulder muscles in his throwing arm.<ref>Fidlin, Ken (April 7, 2015) [http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/07/weighted-ball-program-helps-rehabbing-blue-jays-pitcher-johan-santana Weighted-ball program helps rehabbing Blue Jays pitcher Johan Santana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701032741/http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/07/weighted-ball-program-helps-rehabbing-blue-jays-pitcher-johan-santana |date=July 1, 2015 }}, ''Toronto Sun''.</ref> On June 27, Santana announced that he was ending his 2015 season due to a toe infection and planned to resume his comeback in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/johan-santana-abandons-2015-mlb-comeback/|title=Johan Santana abandons 2015 MLB comeback bid|last=Liddell|first=Mackenzie|work=[[Sportsnet]]|date=June 27, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2015}}</ref>

==Pitching style==
Santana's pitch repertoire included an 88–94&nbsp;mph [[fastball]] along with a [[circle changeup]], which was generally considered his best pitch, and a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

==Personal life==
Santana is the second of five children. He attended Jose Nucete Sardi High School, where he played [[center fielder|center field]].  He and his wife, Yasmile, whom he has known since he was nine years old, have two daughters and a son. Santana missed the New York Mets' 2009 first regular-season game at [[Citi Field]] due to the birth of his son.  He and his family reside in the Miromar Lakes community in Estero, Florida in [[Lee County, Florida|Lee County]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

As a child playing in Little League, Santana wanted to play shortstop until coaches told him he couldn't play shortstop because he was a lefty. He then taught himself to throw right-handed so he could play shortstop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Santana/Santana_bio.html|title=Johan Santana bio|website=JockBio.com|access-date=June 27, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110438/http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Santana/Santana_bio.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2006, Santana founded The Johan Santana Foundation to provide assistance to hospitals. Also in 2006, Santana and the Minnesota Twins purchased a yellow fire truck for Tovar's fire department.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/baseball/24venezuela.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin|title=Santana's Hometown Awaits His Next Move |access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[The New York Times]]|date= January 24, 2008| first=Daniel | last=Cancel}}</ref> All proceeds from Johan's charity wine, Santana's Select, support his foundation. In 2012, the foundation contributed to [[Tuesday's Children]], an organization that helps families impacted by 9/11 and individuals who have lost loved ones to terrorism around the world.<ref name="5/30/12">{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|title=Mets, Santana Donate to Tuesday's Children|url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=32500694&notebook_id=32504472&vkey=notebook_nym&c_id=nym|work=MLB.com|access-date=June 19, 2012|archive-date=January 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110182345/http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120530&content_id=32500694&notebook_id=32504472&vkey=notebook_nym&c_id=nym|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Santana was accused of sexual battery by a woman following an incident that took place on a golf course in Florida on October 28, 2009. No criminal charges were filed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2010/06/mets_pitcher_johan_santana_acc.html|title=Mets pitcher Johan Santana accused of sexual battery last fall, but not charged, says report|first=Star-Ledger|last=Staff|date=June 23, 2010|website=nj}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=munson/101007|title=Munson: Johan Santana's fateful cart-path walk|date=October 7, 2010|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Santana contended that he had a consensual sexual encounter with his accuser.<ref name="auto"/> Santana's accuser later filed a civil lawsuit<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-ace-johan-santana-admits-sex-golf-woman-accused-rape-article-1.180144|title=Mets ace Johan Santana admits having sex on golf course with woman who accused him of rape|first=Kristie Ackert, Corky|last=Siemaszko|website=nydailynews.com|date=June 24, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.naplesnews.com/news/crime/mets-johan-santana-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman-on-fort-myers-golf-course-ep-394169749-343256042.html/|title=Mets' Johan Santana accused of sexually assaulting woman on Fort Myers golf course|website=archive.naplesnews.com}}</ref> and Santana countersued, alleging [[extortion]]. The matter was settled out of court in November 2012.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/21/johan-santana-hall-fame-ballot-2018|title=Evaluating Hall of Fame credentials of Johan Santana|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

Santana was elected to the Twins Hall of Fame in 2018 with a pregame ceremony held at [[Target Field]] on August 4.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/johan-santana-elected-to-twins-hall-of-fame/c-264926282 |title = Johan elected to Twins Hall of Fame|website = [[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

==Highlights==
*''Sports Illustrated'' [[List of 2009 all-decade Sports Illustrated awards and honors#MLB All-Decade Team|MLB All-Decade Team]] (2009)
*American League [[Cy Young Award]] winner (2004 and 2006, both unanimous selections)
*[[TSN Pitcher of the Year]] (2004, 2006)
*[[Players Choice Award|Player's Choice Outstanding Pitcher]] (2004, 2006)
*[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]]–[[2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2007]], [[2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2009]])
*American League [[Gold Glove Award]] winner (2007)
*[[Fielding Bible Award]] (2007)
*[[Warren Spahn Award]] winner (2004, 2006)
*Won the Triple Crown as the leader in wins (19), strikeouts (245), and ERA (2.77) in 2006
*Led [[American League|AL]] in [[win (baseball)|wins]] (2006)
*Led AL in [[strikeouts]] (2004, 2005, 2006)
*Led AL in [[Earned run average|ERA]] (2004, 2006)
*Led [[National League (baseball)|NL]] in [[Earned run average|ERA]] (2008), finishing the season at (2.53). He also set a career high in IP (234.1)
*Led American League in winning percentage in 2003, finishing the season at 12–3 (.800)
*Threw 15 career complete games
*Top 10 Cy Young Award (7th, {{mlby|2003}}; Winner, {{mlby|2004}}; 3rd, {{mlby|2005}}; Winner, {{mlby|2006}}; 5th, {{mlby|2007}}; 3rd {{mlby|2008}})
*Top 10 MVP Award (7th, 2006)
*Fanned former teammate [[David Ortiz]] for his 1,000th career strikeout (June 13, 2006).
*Set a [[Minnesota Twins]] record with 17 strikeouts over eight innings against the Rangers.(August 19, 2007)
*Signed the biggest contract for a pitcher in the history of baseball (February 1, 2008).
*Threw the first no-hitter in New York Mets history on June 1, 2012, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Venezuela}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela]]
* [[List of Minnesota Twins team records]]
* [[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
* [[Minnesota Twins award winners and league leaders]]
* [[New York Mets award winners and league leaders]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Johan Santana}}
{{Baseballstats |mlb=276371 |espn=4280 |br=s/santajo02 |fangraphs=755 |brm=santan001joh}}, or [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/Psantj003.htm Retrosheet]

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{{succession box | title=[[No-hitter]] pitcher | before=[[Jered Weaver]] | years=June 1, {{mlby|2012}} | after=[[Kevin Millwood]], [[Charlie Furbush]], [[Stephen Pryor]], [[Lucas Luetge]], [[Brandon League]], & [[Tom Wilhelmsen (baseball player)|Tom Wilhelmsen]]}}
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{{MLB Triple Crowns (pitchers)}}
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{{AL strikeout champions}}
{{Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame}}
{{Minnesota Twins Opening Day starting pitchers}}
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