Santos signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent on August 28, 2015, for $275,000.[1][2] He spent the 2016 season with the DSL Red Sox, going 3–3 with a 4.17 ERA over 41 innings.[3]
He played for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in 2018, posting a 2–5 record with a 4.53 ERA over 49+2⁄3 innings, and was named a Northwest League mid-season All Star.[6][7] He played for the Augusta GreenJackets in 2019, going 1–5 with a 2.86 ERA over 34+2⁄3 innings.[1][8] Santos missed the second half of the 2019 season due to shoulder issues.[9]
2020–2022
Santos did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] On November 20, 2020, Santos was added to the 40-man roster.[11]
On April 22, 2021, Santos was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] He made his MLB debut that day against the Miami Marlins, pitching a scoreless inning of relief, and was the 6th-youngest player in the NL. In the game, he also notched his first two major league strikeouts, punching out Magneuris Sierra and Jazz Chisholm Jr. On April 28, Santos was optioned to the Giants' alternate site in Sacramento to make room for new outfielder Mike Tauchman.[13] He later began his minor league season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.
In 2022 playing in the minors for Sacramento and briefly for the ACL Giants Black, he was a combined 1-2 with one save and a 4.63 ERA in 35 games (2 starts) in which he pitched 35 innings.[15] In 2022 with the Giants he made two relief appearances, and in 3.2 innings gave up 3 hits, 3 walks, and had two strikeouts.[15]
On December 22, 2022, Santos was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Kade McClure. [16] Santos made 60 appearances out of the bullpen for Chicago in 2023, recording a 3.39 ERA with 66 strikeouts and 5 saves across 66+1⁄3 innings pitched.[17]
Seattle Mariners
On February 3, 2024, the White Sox traded Santos to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitcher Prelander Berroa and outfielder Zach DeLoach.[18][19] He began the year on the injured list with a right lat strain.[20] Santos was transferred to the 60–day injured list on April 25.[21]