Santillan earned the save in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Cubs, allowing two walks and zero hits while striking out two batters in one scoreless inning.
With Emilio Pagan being dispatched in each of the last two games, Santillan was brought out for the ninth inning to preserve the Reds' shutout bid. It wasn't an easy outing, as Santillan issued two walks while tossing 23 pitches (12 strikes), but he finished things off by striking out two of the last three batters he faced. He has yielded just one earned run across his last 17 outings and has a 1.35 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 26.2 innings since the All-Star break.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Records save Wednesday
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Santillan notched a save against San Diego on Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
After Cincinnati finally got to Padres pitching with a pair of runs in the eighth inning to go up 2-1, Santillan was summoned in the ninth to protect the tenuous lead. The right-hander surrendered a leadoff double to Gavin Sheets but bounced back to retire the next three hitters in order, finishing off the save with a strikeout of Bryce Johnson. Santillan has registered a save in two of three appearances spanning the past four days. However, Emilio Pagan is probably still the favorite for saves out of the Reds' bullpen -- he wasn't used Wednesday, but that may have been because he pitched each of the previous two days.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Escapes with save
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Santillan allowed a run on two hits in one inning while earning a save over the Mets on Sunday.
Santillan coughed up a one-out solo homer to Juan Soto but hung on to finish off the 3-2 victory. It was Santillan's first save since August 19, and he's converted five of his eight chances this season. He now owns an impressive 2.63 ERA with a 66:25 K:BB through 65 frames. Emilio Pagan pitched Friday and Saturday, and he was not available during Sunday's win.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Secures fourth save
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Santillan struck out two over a perfect inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Angels.
Emilio Pagan pitched Saturday and Sunday, but he's been held out of save opportunities Monday and Tuesday. Santillan got the job done on 12 pitches Tuesday after Scott Barlow converted the save Monday. Santillan has had mixed results in August, allowing three runs over 7.2 innings with a 9:6 K:BB, though he's also picked up five holds and a blown save. He remains in the high-leverage mix, and if the Reds' bullpen becomes a committee, that would likely increase his save share. For the season, Santillan has a 2.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 57:22 K:BB with four saves and 27 holds across 58 innings.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Nabs third save Wednesday
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Santillan picked up the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Dodgers, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.
Closer Emilio Pagan likely wasn't available after working four of the past five days for the Reds, which created the opportunity for Santillan to nab his third save of the season. Santillan owns a 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB over 23 innings since the start of June, and he remains firmly in the high-leverage mix with 22 holds on the year.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Earns 20th hold
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Santillan struck out all three batters he faced over a scoreless seventh inning to earn a hold in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Mets.
The Reds' bullpen protected a lead over the final four innings, including Santillan's quick dismissal of Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos. The hold was Santillan's 20th in 2025, by far the most he's recorded in five seasons in the majors. Since the beginning of June, the right-handed reliever has a 2.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and eight walks over 17.2 innings.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Earns second save
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Santillan earned the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
Santillan was summoned to protect a two-run lead and needed just seven pitches to seal the win. It was an interesting move, as usual closer Emilio Pagan had thrown only 11 pitches in the ninth inning during Saturday's completion of Friday's suspended game. On the year, Santillan owns a 3.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB across 30 innings with 13 holds and two saves.
Reds' Tony Santillan: Charged with blown save Wednesday
Rotowire
Santillan blew the save after giving up one run on one hit and no walks in 1.1 innings during Wednesday's 8-6 extra-inning loss to the Giants.
After recording two outs to close the seventh inning, Santillan served up a first-pitch fastball for a game-tying solo home run to Wilmer Flores. Santillan is working alongside Emilio Pagan for save opportunities in the absence of Alexis Diaz (hamstring), and the former has logged three holds while converting one of his two save chances to open the campaign. That said, Santillan does boast a 1.23 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with seven punchouts across 7.1 innings, and he should remain in the mix for ninth-inning work until Diaz rejoins the team.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Logs first save
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Santillan retired the lone batter faced over a third of an inning to pick up the save in Monday's 2-0 win over the Giants.
Hunter Greene attempted to finish what he started but allowed a two-out single and walk, which prompted manager Terry Francona to send in the cavalry. On this night, that was Santillan, who got Heliot Ramos to line out on a 3-1 four-seamer. The save was Santillan's first of the season and first since 2022. He's the third Reds reliever to log a ninth-inning save opportunity, as Francona does not appear to have a go-to guy since Alexis Diaz (hamstring) was removed from the role amid command issues this spring. Diaz is expected to make at least two more appearances while on rehab at Triple-A Louisville but is not guaranteed to get the closer's job back.
Reds manager Terry Francona indicated recently that he prefers to use Santillan "when we need to put the fire out" earlier in games, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Santillan pitched a scoreless eighth inning on Opening Day versus the Giants and a scoreless seventh inning Saturday, protecting a one-run lead on both occasions. While the 27-year-old looks to be Francona's most trusted reliever right now, Santillan looks like a better bet for holds than saves. Emilio Pagan appears to be the top closer option while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) is shelved.
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Reds' Tony Santillan: Nabs second hold
Rotowire
Santillan pitched the seventh inning Saturday to get his second hold in as many games. Emilio Pagan later got the save.
Santillan was brilliant Thursday in getting his first hold, striking out two batters. In this outing he gave up a single and didn't strike any batters out, but got out of the inning by inducing a double-play grounder. He's in the mix for saves with Alexis Diaz (hamstring) sidelined, but Emilio Pagan may be the top fill-in option after securing the save Saturday.
Reds' Tony Santillan: Mentioned as possible closer option
Rotowire
Reds manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that while Santillan is an "easy choice" to be the closer, "he might be too valuable getting to the ninth," Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
While Francona admitted he's not sure who his closer will be while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) is sidelined, it's notable that he mentioned Santillan in the fashion that he did, suggesting the right-hander might be the favorite to see the first opportunity. Santillan began last season in the minors after re-signing with the Reds last offseason on a minor-league deal, but he was excellent with the big club after being called up, posting a 3.00 ERA and 46:9 K:BB over 30 innings. Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, Graham Ashcraft and Emilio Pagan are other candidates to see save chances with the Reds.
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