He had previously signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers five years earlier in 2010. Despite making his way through the organization's farm system, Santana was traded in 2008 to the Indians. He was considered to be among the team's best prospects ahead of his debut. During his debut, he batted third in the Indians' lineup, making him the first player in an Indians uniform to appear in the third slot in his first game since Jim Norris did so in the late '70s. The right-handed first baseman/catcher/third baseman has played every game of his career with the Indians, and, as of the fall of 2014, remains on Cleveland's roster. He signed a five-year, $21 million contract extension with the Indians in 2012. The team has an option on him heading into the 2016 season. Through the 2014 season, Santana has a career batting average of .248 to go along with 569 hits, close to 100 home runs, and 336 runs batted in. Santana played internationally for the Dominican Republic, earning a gold medal at the 2013 World Baseball Classic in San Francisco.
