Santana Gets a Warm Welcome From the Progressive Field Faithful

CLEVELAND – When public addresser Bob Tayak announced Carlos Santana’s name before coming to the plate, the former Indian was greeted with a loud standing ovation from the fans.

Santana signed a two-year deal with the Royals in the off-season, worth $17.5 million. In his ten-year career in Cleveland, Santana hit 210 home runs and 710 RBI’s.

“Just because a kid changes uniforms doesn’t mean he’s going to change the way he behaves or the way he acts,” Francona said.

“You’re going to find a guy that probably wants to play 162 games, shoot even counting spring training when he’d always ask veteran guys, ‘Do you want anther at-bat’ he’d always take two.”

A warm ovation from @Indians fans for Carlos Santana. 👏👏#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/0SMB4WtzvZ

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 5, 2021

Santana removed his batting helmet during the ovation and saluted the crowd before turning back to the plate.

Catcher Roberto Perez, Santana’s teammate in Cleveland for six seasons, hugged the first-basemen before setting in the batter’s box.