Mayobanex Santana
The Elusive Dominican
If Tom and I had known how fleeting our time with Mayobanex Santana would be, we would have savored the moment a bit more. It was a summer evening in August 2004, and the lanky infielder caught our attention more with his great name than with his hitting, fielding or baserunning. He was playing for the Modesto A's, at the time Oakland's long-season A affiliate in the California League. Mayobanex and his A's were playing the Stockton Ports on the road that evening.

Regardless of his light hitting and awkward running, Mayobanex Santana and his
marvelous name stuck with us after that night. He became our mascot, idolized as the face of minor-league baseball. We followed the rest of his 2004 season and then eagerly awaited news of the next season's roster. At spring training in 2005, we even asked heralded GM Billy Beane himself where Mayobanex would be in the upcoming season. His answer, looking back on it, was somewhat of an omen. "Doesn't he play for the Angels?" Beane said.

It was with the greatest shock and disappointment that
we read, on April 4, 2005, that Mayobanex Santana had been one of 38 minor-league players to test positive for a banned substance. He had been released by Oakland, and he would face a 15-game suspension when, and if, he returned to organized baseball. Our hearts were broken.

And so it led us to form the Campaign for Mayobanex. We need news of our friend and idol Mayobanex Santana. Whether you are in the Dominican Republic, Lancaster, Visalia or the most remote outpost of the minor leagues, please let us know if you've seen Mayobanex Santana. We demand that he never give up his dreams, that he return to professional baseball and attain the greatness for which he is destined. Fill out the guest book or e-mail us at
mayobanexsantana@yahoo.com.

UPDATE (Aug. 10, 2008):
The independent
Edinburg Coyotes of United League Baseball today named Mayobanex Santana as their team MVP, according to The Monitor. Congratulations, Mayobanex! Now, onward and upward, Mr. Santana. I'm sure a few major-league teams could use a corner infielder for the stretch run.
Mayobanex Santana with the 2004 Modesto A's.
Credit: unknown photographer
Vitals
Name: Mayobanex Anbioriz Santana
Born: Aug. 23, 1981, in
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 190
Position: 3B/1B/SS/2B/P
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed in 1999 as an undrafted free agent by the
Chicago White Sox.
Accomplishments
- Pioneer League record for assists in a 9-inning game (9, for Missoula vs. Billings, Aug. 2, 2002).
- Honorable mention, Pioneer League all-stars, 2002.
Impostors in baseball
- Jose Mayobanex Fernandez
-
Mayobanex Diaz
Links

- Our Mayobanex blog.
- His page at The Baseball Cube.
-
A blog mention of Mayobanex.
-
The original Mayobanex.
-
His 3/29/07 spring at-bat.
- His 2007 stats, including pitching!
His career

- 1999: Dominican White Sox
- 2000: Arizona White Sox
- 2000-01:
Bristol White Sox
- 2002:
Missoula Osprey
- 2003:
South Bend Silverhawks
- 2003-04:
Lancaster JetHawks
- 2004:
Arizona Diamondbacks (spring training)
- 2004:
El Paso Diablos
- 2004:
Kinston Indians
- 2004: Modesto Athletics
- 2006:
Yakima Bears
- 2006: Lancaster JetHawks
- 2007: Arizona Diamondbacks (spring training)
- 2007:
Visalia Oaks
- 2007-08: Licey Tigers (winter)
- 2008:
Edinburg Coyotes