Santiago Florez

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Santiago Florez

| position = Pitcher

| team = Washington Wild Things

| number =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|9}}

| birth_place = Barranquilla, Colombia

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| show-medals = no

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{bb|COL}}}}

}}

Santiago Jesus Florez (born May 9, 2000) is a Colombian professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.

Career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On July 2, 2016, Florez signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a $150,000 signing bonus.{{Cite web|url=https://piratesprospects.com/2016/07/pirates-sign-three-players-from-colombia.html|title=Pirates Sign Three Players From Colombia - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=July 3, 2016}} He made his professional debut for the Dominican Summer League Pirates, starting 14 contests and posting a 4.56 ERA with 30 strikeouts.{{Cite web|url=https://piratesprospects.com/2017/09/2017-dsl-pirates-recap-a-season-highlighted-by-two-breakout-hitters-and-young-pitching-talent.html|title=2017 DSL Pirates Recap: A Season Highlighted by Two Breakout Hitters and Young Pitching Talent - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=September 22, 2017}} In 2018, Florez pitched for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Pirates, starting 10 games and recording a 4.15 ERA with 35 strikeouts across {{fraction|43|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://piratesprospects.com/2018/09/gcl-top-ten-prospects-a-group-led-by-two-prep-pitchers-and-the-top-international-signing.html|title=GCL Top Ten Prospects: A Group Led by Two Prep Pitchers and the Top International Signing - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=September 10, 2018}} In 2019, he pitched for the rookie–level Bristol Pirates, making 10 starts and registering a 2–2 record and 3.46 ERA with 36 strikeouts across {{fraction|41|2|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|url=https://piratesprospects.com/2019/09/bristol-pirates-season-recap-a-young-pitching-staff-and-a-playoff-drought-ended.html|title=Bristol Pirates Season Recap: A Young Pitching Staff and a Playoff Drought Ended - Pirates Prospects|first=John|last=Dreker|date=September 4, 2019}}

Florez did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=February 1, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He returned to action in 2021 with the Single–A Bradenton Marauders and High–A Greensboro Grasshoppers. In 21 games (18 starts), Florez accumulated an 8–5 record and 4.14 ERA with 107 strikeouts and one save across {{fraction|95|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Santiago Florez Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/14377-santiago-florez/|access-date=March 5, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

In 2022, Florez returned to Greensboro, pitching in 32 games and struggling to a 6.50 ERA with 61 strikeouts across {{fraction|63|2|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Santiago Florez - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/santiago-florez/sa3003026/stats?position=P|access-date=March 5, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} He began the 2023 season with the Greensboro, his third straight year with the affiliate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2023/04/pirates-2023-minor-league-previews-greensboro-grasshoppers.html|title=Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Greensboro Grasshoppers - Pirates Prospects|first=Wilbur|last=Miller|date=April 6, 2023}} In 37 relief appearances, he struggled to a 7.08 ERA with 40 strikeouts across {{fraction|40|2|3}} innings of work. Florez elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=February 1, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=8 November 2023 |language=en}}

=Sioux City Explorers=

On January 30, 2024, Florez signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=January 30, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 10 appearances for the Explorers, he compiled a 4.09 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 11 innings pitched. Florez was released by Sioux City on July 25.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=July 26, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}

=Washington Wild Things=

On February 27, 2025, Florez signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.{{Cite web|title=2024-25 Transactions|url=https://www.frontierleague.com/information/Transactions/index|access-date=February 28, 2025|website=frontierleague.com|language=en}}

International career

Florez represented the Colombia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic,{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/being-part-of-it-is-really-special-pirates-players-thrilled-to-participate-in-world-baseball-classic/|title='Being part of it is really special': Pirates players thrilled to participate in World Baseball Classic|first=Kevin|last=Gorman|date=March 5, 2023|website=TribLIVE.com}} pitching in Colombia's game against the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gallerysports.com/usa-beats-colombia-to-advance-to-wbc-quarters/|title=USA beats Colombia to advance to WBC quarters - Gallery Sports|date=March 16, 2023}} Florez was part of the Colombian squad that won the gold medal at the 2023 Pan American Games contested in Santiago, Chile in October 2023.{{cite web|title=Colombia makes history with first gold in baseball|url=https://www.panamsports.org/en/news-sport/colombia-makes-history-with-first-gold-in-baseball/|website=Panam Sports|first=Italo|last=Sanhueza|date=28 October 2023|access-date=3 January 2024|language=es}}