Domingo Santana could be version two of Corey Hart

Domingo Santana homered and drove in a pair in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 12-5 win Thursday over the St. Louis Cardinals.

In watching Santana since the middle of last season, you don’t need to look hard to see him as another version of Corey Hart with a higher ceiling.

It’s often unfair to compare players, but it can also be an effective practice to gain perspective on what a guy is or what he could be.

Santana’s 440-foot home run to center field on Thursday was a prime example of the reason he will succeed.

His 2-for-5 night upped his average to .251 with a .352 OBP and a .779 OPS for the season.

In 17 games (10 starts) since coming off the DL, Santana boasts a .302 average, .367 OBP, .535 slugging percentage and a .902 OPS. He has 3 home runs, 8 RBI and 5 walks in 49 plate appearances over that span.

Hart’s career walk percentage (BB%) was 7%, while Santana’s current career BB% sits at a terrific 11.6% in his first 115 games

The 24-year-old shows tremendous power to center and the opposite field, displaying a consistent stroke the other way. Being able to drive the ball to right will help him avoid prolonged slumps.

Now Hart was more of a pull hitter in general, but that is one of the few areas where these two Brewers differ.

First of all, Hart was probably underrated by many Brewers fans. He had flaws, but he put up some terrific numbers from 2007-2012.

In those six seasons, Hart averaged 24 home runs, 81 runs scored, and 78 RBI to go with a .495 slugging percentage and an .830 OPS.

His OPS was good for 17th among all NL outfielders during that time, better than Hunter Pence, Jason Heyward and Jay Bruce to name a few.

Corey Hart watches from the dugout. Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

While Hart played a below-average right field, he was more than serviceable out there considering the offensive output.

That brings us to the Brewers’ current right fielder in Santana.

Besides playing the same position and being among the taller players in the game (Hart 6’6″, Santana 6’5″), the two share other similarities.

For one, look at their early-career MLB statistics with the Brewers.

Hart’s first 320 plate appearances: .264 average, .763 OPS, 15 doubles and 11 home runs

Santana’s first 344 plates appearances: .243 average, .773 OPS, 14 doubles and 13 home runs

Aside from those close numbers, manager Craig Counsell has alluded to the fact that Santana and Hart could both hit anywhere in the lineup.

Despite possessing the power to bat in the middle of the order, Santana (like Hart) has shown value in hitting leadoff. His current .352 OBP would play well there if Jonathan Villar hadn’t claimed that role so well (.377 OBP, .841 OPS).

Santana is already showing more plate discipline and patience than Hart often did, though both hitters have strikeout tendencies. For Santana, those punch outs are more a product of seeing extra pitches.

That selectivity allows Santana to take more walks than Hart, a big positive for a team like the Brewers.

Hart’s career walk percentage (BB%) was 7%, while Santana’s current career BB% sits at a terrific 11.6% in his first 115 games. If you placed that number into this season’s leaderboard, Santana would be 19th in all of MLB.

Domingo Santana drives in a run with a double in the fourth inning at Miller Park. Photo Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

Witnessing such patience and quality vision from a young player is an extremely encouraging sign.

Both players are (were) faster than most think, running with a certain ease thanks to their long strides. Hart was more inclined to steal bases in his younger days (23 steals apiece in 2007 and 2008).

Santana doesn’t look to swipe bases much with only six in his young career, appearing to lack the instincts to get a good jump.

Still, he moves well around the bases, though lacks the same level of speed Hart brought to the table.

Playing right field can be a bit laborious for him, sometimes lumbering to get to balls like Hart did.

When Santana is healthy he has a terrific arm for the position, giving him an edge over the former inhabitant.

Mostly, fans will focus on what happens at the plate and that’s where the similarities exist, even in the minor leagues.

Across all minor league levels, Santana had 148 more plate appearances, but the comparison between the two is striking.

Batting average: Hart .296, Santana .282

OBP: Santana .374, Hart .355

Slugging percentage: Hart .498, Santana .485

OPS: Santana .859, Hart .852

Home runs: Santana 108, Hart 93

Runs: Hart 437, Santana 427

One key for Santana possibly surpassing the former two-time All-Star lies in his age – both now and in the minor leagues.

He has been consistently four to six years younger than the average player at each level he’s played at. Still, Santana showed the type of discipline and ability you’d expect from an older player.

Again, despite the strikeouts, he also drew plenty of walks in the minors, helping to post a .407 OBP in 938 plate appearances in triple-A.

In the minors, Santana had a slightly lower slugging percentage compared to Hart, but he still hit his fair share of homers and doubles.

The focus once again should be on his age.