Chicago, Ill. – March 22, 2021 – The MCL Minutemen of the Midwest Collegiate League have announced the hiring of Pascual Santiago as the team’s manager. Santiago brings a wealth of baseball experience at the professional and collegiate levels to his new role with the Minutemen.

Santiago, the head coach at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Ill., has over 20 years of college baseball coaching experience and 11 years of experience coaching in the professional ranks.

“I’m looking forward to the chance to manage in a collegiate summer setting,” Santiago said. “I hope I can prepare the players for what it’s like to play at the professional level and give them an idea of what it’s like in pro ball. There is a certain way things are done at the professional level, and I hope some of my experience will be beneficial for our players this summer.”

Santiago’s wealth of experience in the professional ranks includes a recent stint as the hitting coach and third base coach for the Normal CornBelters of the Frontier League in 2018, when his team led the league in batting average. He spent one season as a professional manager in the Empire League with the Old Orchard Beach Surge in 2017, when he was named the league’s Manager of the Year.

The head coach at Olive-Harvey City College from 2012-2016, Santiago also served as an assistant coach and first base coach for the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the American Association from 2011-2013 and was part of the team’s 2013 American Association Championship. The Blue Island, Ill. native spent two seasons as the pitching coach for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League following his RailCats run.

Santiago’s first position in professional ball was with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League from 2008-2010, when he served as bullpen coach, first base coach and bench coach. He was on staff for the ThunderBolts’ 2008 Frontier League championship season.

“Coaching at the professional level, the work ethic of the players is top notch,” Santiago said. “Those guys know how to prepare for a game; you don’t have to be on top of them at all. Baseball is their career. You set a time, and they’re there early. They’re at the field at 11 a.m. putting work in for a 7 p.m. game. The work ethic of the players and the way they go about their business is what stands out to me about coaching pro ball.”

A 1985 graduate of Dwight D. Eisenhower High School and a 1987 product of ITT Technical Institute in Chicago, Santiago also made the following college coaching stops: Lewis University assistant coach (2002-2003), Moraine Valley CC pitching coach (2005-2007), Olive Harvey pitching coach (2007-2008) and Robert Morris University associate head coach/hitting coach (2008-2010). He played semipro football as a wide receiver from 1990-1994.

Santiago lists former Lewis University head coach the late Irish O’Reilly, Gary RailCats manager Greg Tagert and Chicago White Sox batting practice pitcher Mike Kashirsky, a longtime Chicagoland baseball coach, as the three biggest influences on his coaching career.

“The first guy who gave me a shot was Coach O’Reilly at Lewis,” Santiago said. “He was very influential in showing me how you take care of business as you go through a season, and he’s extremely important to me since he gave me my first chance in college baseball. Kash is another guy who is very influential because he got me started in pro ball. He’s a top-notch individual who treats people the right way. I learned about stats and charting from Greg, and also admire the way he goes about his business and the way he runs his club.”

Santiago is excited to bring his brand of baseball to the MCL this summer.

“I like aggressive guys who will take the extra base,” Santiago said. “I want guys who can make contact and hit the other way to move runners over. I’m also looking for a lot of speed. I like to be aggressive at all levels of baseball, both the pro and college levels. I’ve always stretched the limit and tried to get the extra base. I like teams that do the little things to get to the next level.”

The MCL is entering its 12th season of aiding collegiate ballplayers in their baseball development. Numerous MCL alumni have reached the professional ranks including St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Paul DeJong, former Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tony Cingrani, former New York Mets outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski and Milwaukee Brewers 2016 No. 5 overall pick Corey Ray.