Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: Johan Alexander Santana ( born March 13 , 1979 , in Tovar , MÃ rida State , Venezuela ) is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the New York Mets .
Simplified: Johan Alexander Santana Araque ( Ë joÊ hÉ ` Ë n sÃ nË tÃ nÉ ; born March 13 , 1979 ) is a Major League Baseball ( MLB ) left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets . He is a native of Venezuela .