'He's a very old man': Carlos Santana has career month in May 2025 for Guardians
Santana, who turned 39 the day of Cleveland's home opener this season, had one of the best months of his entire career in May. And considering the Guardians' issues with length in the lineup, the "very old man" (in baseball terms) has played a key role in keeping Cleveland afloat in the American League Central race.
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Santana finished the month of May with 22 RBIs, tying a career-high total in a single month (May 2018 and August 2019). Since May 18, he's been one of the hottest hitters in baseball — regardless of age.
Santana went 2-for-4 with score-tying home run in the Guardians' comeback 7-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on May 31. That performance extended his hit streak to 10 games and made him the first Cleveland hitter aged 39 or older with a steak of at least that long since Eddie Murray (at 40 years old) in 1996.
Cleveland Guardians' Carlos Santana (41) hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels on May 31, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Carlos Santana stats the best in baseball last 2 weeks
Since May 18, Santana leads all qualified hitters (at least 30 plate appearances) with a .457 average, .558 on-base percentage and a 1.330 OPS. During that time, he's totaled three home runs, eight RBIs, two doubles and eight walks.
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The rest of the Guardians clubhouse — which outside of Santana skews much younger — might poke fun at him for his age. They won't let him forget his age. But they also see Santana as a perfect example to follow for how to be a professional hitter.
"I mean, other than he's a very old man," joked Jose Ramirez through a team translator when asked what stood out about what Santana has added to the lineup. "No, he's my brother. I love the fact that he's able to work hard and we know that he's the hardest worker out there. We see that every time he works, and he's playing every day."
Gabriel Arias quickly added through the team translator, "For me, he's like an example to follow when you see that age with how he plays the game and how he moves around. He looks like one of us, the younger guys."
Santana had a rough start to the season, posting a .595 OPS through the end of April. He's often had Aprils like that, and the Guardians know it. Then he homered on May 2, and he's been scorching hot ever since (.307 average, .448 OBP, .955 OPS in May entering Sunday).
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"Yeah, I mean, Carlos historically has tough Aprils — he talks about it," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. "And his first at-bat of May, I think it was Toronto, hit a homer and it was just, 'All right, May 'Los is here,' and he goes on to have a huge month."
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry cheers before a rehab assignment with Akron RubberDucks at Canal Park on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.
David Fry injury update: Guardians designated hitter returns to roster
David Fry, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow over the offseason and missed the first couple months of the season, was activated off the injured list before Saturday's game.
It was long wait that started at the team's facility in Arizona. It didn't take long for Fry to get antsy.
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"Brutal. It's the worst," Fry said of not being able to contribute. "The first series, it was exciting to see everybody on TV and I'm like, 'Yeah, the boys are playing again.' And then after for about a week, I was like, 'I'd much rather be there.'"
Although Fry is again available as a hitter, he'll be relegated to designated hitter duties, at least for the time being. It likely means that he could be in for a DH timeshare along with left-handed hitter Kyle Manzardo.
Playing catcher is out of the question anytime soon. It's possible Fry could eventually be an option at first base, but that won't be until later in the season, if at all.
Vogt referred to Fry as a "much-needed" hitter against left-handed pitchers. For now, the Guardians again have his bat available in the order, but his glove will remain in his locker.
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"I mean, David walking back into the building put a smile on everybody's face, not only for the player he is — obviously we know how he can help us in the batter's box — but just the person that he is, the leader on this team, the heart of this clubhouse, he's a big part of that," Vogt said. "Catching is definitely not in the cards. We can't do that to him.
"The most important thing is for him to fully recover from this and be able to catch moving forward. His career, that's priority number one."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians' Carlos Santana has career numbers at age 39
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