RailCats manager Greg Tagert kept using the word “special” when describing infielder Randy Santiesteban.
“He’s a special player in the making,” Tagert said. “Not only at our level, but even at a level higher than this. He’s that kind of player.”
In his third season with the RailCats, Santiesteban has overcome a slow start and tapped into the high-end talent that Tagert referenced.
The 26-year-old Santiesteban battled a strained left hamstring suffered in the opening series of the season, part of the reason his batting average sat at .189 after a June 15 loss to the Sioux City Explorers.
In a month since, Santiesteban has raised that average to .277 heading into Friday night’s home game against the St. Paul Saints.
He chalked up that success to experience.
“I just picked up where I left off last season,” Santiesteban said. “I know how they’re going to pitch to me in every situation, and I’ve really felt more comfortable at the plate.
“If I don’t overthink anything and I feel comfortable with two strikes, I can hit against anybody.”
Santiesteban was again batting in the third spot Friday night, his typical place in the RailCats’ order this summer. He’s learned to handle extra attention from opposing pitchers in that role.
“They pitch to you in a different way than any other spot,” he said. “Especially if you’re up with runners in scoring position. A lot of the pitchers in this league are veterans, so they know how to pitch in every at-bat.
“Even if you’ve had success against them (in the past), they’ll be ready to go at you again.”
He’s riding an eight-game hit streak, going 9-for-27 with three doubles, seven RBIs and eight runs. That surge coincided with the team’s 4-1 road trip to Winnipeg and Fargo last week — a well-timed stretch of strong play, according to Tagert.
“Coming off the heels of several weeks of struggling, getting those two series wins was big,” Tagert said. “It was much-needed.”
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Tagert lamented Thursday’s rainout, which denied the RailCats (29-26) an opportunity to move ahead of second-place Fargo (30-26). But with a weekend series against the first-place Saints (33-25), the RailCats had another chance to gain ground in the North Division.
And if players like Santiesteban continue thriving at the plate, a place atop the standings remains attainable for the RailCats.
“I’ll be preparing the same way every day,” Santiesteban said. “Even on days like (Friday) when it’s raining, if we’re all 100-percent ready to play and the other team isn’t, we can have them beat before the game even starts.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.