Tony Santillan Faces Challenges on the Mound as Breaking Pitch Falters

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan's recent struggles have caught the attention of manager Terry Francona, who has noted the inconsistency of Santillan's breaking pitch. While Santillan has shown improvements with his fastball, Francona described the breaking ball as being "in and out," which has contributed to the pitcher's difficulties on the field.

Santillan himself acknowledged the critique, stating, "Haven't been able to land (the breaking ball) for strikes when needed," which has led him to fall behind in counts. As a result, he feels he must rely heavily on his fastball. "It feels better. It's getting better. The breaker is just very inconsistent," he added.

In a recent game against the Kansas City Royals on June 3, the issues Santillan has faced were evident. With the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning, he delivered 10 consecutive fastballs to Michael Massey, the last of which was hit hard for a go-ahead single. Following that, Nick Loftin hit a home run after Santillan fell behind in the count, sealing a 5-2 loss for the Reds.

Santillan's performance has drastically changed since the start of the 2026 season, where he initially had a 1.98 ERA. However, following a rough May, his ERA climbed to 6.65, marking a downturn where he allowed earned runs in eight of his last twelve outings. His struggles are compounded by injuries to fellow relievers, which have forced the team to rely on him more heavily.

Despite the challenges, Francona remains hopeful about Santillan's potential to regain stability in the bullpen. “We’re at a point where we need some stability so much,” he said. The Reds are looking for consistent performances from Santillan, who is determined to improve his game. "I know what I need to work on," he stated, emphasizing the importance of refining his breaking ball to complement his fastball. "Without it, for anybody... especially a two-pitch pitcher, if you get one eliminated, it's very hard to pitch with one pitch."