Rodolfo Castro
YEARTEAMGABRHitsRBIDTHRBBSOSBCSEAVGOBPSLUG
2023Samurai28333201040000.3750.3751.000
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Mar 19 2024The Phillies optioned Castro to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was a longshot to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster following the signing of Whit Merrifield, and the former's .646 OPS over 32 plate appearances during spring training didn't help his chances. The 24-year-old played in 92 games between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh last season but had a .211/.297/.322 slash line and 28.9 percent strikeout rate.
Mar 6 2024Castro went 1-for-2 in Philadelphia's 3-2 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has tallied 16 plate appearances in eight spring training games to date as it's clear the team wants to give the infielder every opportunity to make the Opening Day roster. While he has accumulated considerable experience over three seasons in the majors, Castro's high strikeout rate limits his offensive potential. If Castro makes the roster, he figures to be positioned as the team's rotational utility infielder.
Sep 30 2023The Phillies optioned Castro to the Florida Complex League on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline, Castro has slashed just .100/.156/.100 across 32 plate appearances over 14 games. His poor performance will cost him his spot on Philadelphia's bench, and the team will bring up Weston Wilson from Triple-A to replace Castro.
Aug 2 2023The Phillies activated Castro ahead of Wednesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After he was acquired from the Pirates on Tuesday, Castro will end up taking the 40-man roster spot and 26-man active roster spot of Josh Harrison, who has been released by Philadelphia. Like Harrison before him, Castro projects to fill a utility infield role, though he'll bring more upside to the table than his veteran predecessor. The 24-year-old switch hitter wasn't able to stick as a full-time player in Pittsburgh, but he's still produced a 92 wRC+ over 595 plate appearances in the majors, a respectable mark for a player of his age.
Aug 1 2023Castro was traded from the Pirates to the Phillies on Tuesday in exchange for Bailey Falter, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Best known for crushing left-handed pitching (career .277/.341/.559 slash line in 223 plate appearances), Castro had been at Triple-A Indianapolis for the past couple weeks after hitting .228/.317/.355 overall for the Pirates this season, contributing to a minus-0.3 fWAR. Castro provides the Phillies with some infield versatility, as he can play second base, third base and shortstop.
Jul 16 2023The Pirates optioned Castro to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro's performance slipped in June and his playing time dried up, so he will head to the minors for the first time this season and attempt to get back on track with regular at-bats. The 24-year-old has a .228/.317/.355 line in 224 plate appearances with the big club this year, a step back from 2022. Andrew McCutchen (elbow) took Castro's spot on the active roster.
Jul 2 2023Castro is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro is on the bench for a fourth straight game, and he doesn't look as though he'll be a major beneficiary of Ji Hwan Bae's (ankle) move to the injured list Sunday. Though Castro has the ability to play three infield spots, the Pirates appear to have at least temporarily settled on Nick Gonzales, Tucupita Marcano and Jared Triolo as their primary options at second base, shortstop and third base, respectivey.
Jun 28 2023Castro went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has fallen into a bench role in recent weeks, though he's now started consecutive games at third base. The Pirates haven't announced an injury to Ke'Bryan Hayes, so it's unlikely that Castro maintains a consistent role. Even when given an opportunity, he's gone through significant struggles and maintained just a .185 average with four RBI and two runs scored across his last 54 at-bats.
Jun 11 2023Castro is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro will take a seat for a third straight game and seems to have moved into the short side of a platoon with Ji Hwan Bae. With Castro on the bench, Bae will start at second base and bat seventh Sunday against Carlos Carrasco and the New York staff.
Jun 10 2023Castro is out of Saturday's lineup against the Mets, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates are facing three righties this weekend against the Mets, and so far Castro has started on the bench in the first two games of the series. He had started nine of 10 games prior to this weekend, with four of those starts coming against righties, but lately Ji Hwan Bae has handled the keystone against righties.
Jun 9 2023Castro is not in the lineup Friday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ji Hwan Bae is starting at second base and batting seventh versus the Mets and right-hander Tylor Megill. The switch-hitting Castro has slashed just .193/.287/.217 in 94 plate appearances this season versus righties. He boasts a .364/.449/.712 slash line in 78 plate appearances versus lefties.
Jun 7 2023Castro went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-5 loss against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro got Pittsburgh on the board with a solo shot off Hogan Harris in the second inning before driving in two more runs with a double in the fourth. Castro's been swinging a hot bat, going 10-for-27 (.370) over his last eight games. The 24-year-old Castro has earned a regular role between shortstop and second base in Pittsburgh. He's slashing a solid .268/.360/.436 with six homers, 21 RBI and 17 runs scored through 172 plate appearances this season.
Jun 4 2023Castro will start at second base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro appeared to benefit from a spike in playing time last week while Carlos Santana was day-to-day with a spinal injury, but Castro nows finds himself in the lineup for the second time in three games alongside Santana. With two-hit efforts in three of his last four starts, Castro may have pushed himself back into a near-everyday role in the infield for the time being. Meanwhile, Ji Hwan Bae has made three of his last four starts in center field to create an opening for Castro at the keystone.
May 31 2023Castro will start at second base and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro will be rewarded with a fourth consecutive start after he went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Tuesday's 2-1 win. However, if Carlos Santana (spine) is back in action for the team's next game Friday in St. Louis, the Pirates may not have room in the lineup for both Castro and Connor Joe, who has also noticed an uptick in playing time while Santana has been day-to-day.
May 17 2023Castro went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-0 victory over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro swatted his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning off Eduardo Rodriguez before adding a second RBI on a base hit in the seventh. Castro, making his first start since May 8, snapped a 1-for-13 stretch with his two-hit effort Wednesday. He's now slashing .260/.366/.452 with 13 runs scored and 16 RBI through 123 plate appearances this season.
May 12 2023Castro is not in the lineup Friday versus the Orioles, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro hasn't started a game for the Pirates since Monday's series opener against the Rockies and seems to have fallen into more of a utility role after a multi-week run as the team's primary shortstop. Tucupita Marcano is playing short and batting seventh Friday in Baltimore.
May 10 2023Castro is out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench for the second consecutive game. Chris Owings is playing shortstop and hitting eighth in Castro's absence.
May 9 2023Castro is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro slugged a two-run homer in the Pirates' defeat of the Rockies on Monday night, but he'll get a breather in the second game of the three-game set at PNC Park. Tucupita Marcano is covering shortstop and batting eighth.
May 4 2023Castro is out of the lineup Thursday afternoon against the Rays, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This looks to be a planned day of rest for Castro, who has posted a strong .274/.374/.440 batting line through 99 plate appearances this season for the NL Central-leading Pirates. Tucupita Marcano will cover shortstop and bat leadoff versus the Rays and righty Zach Eflin.
Apr 30 2023Castro is out of the starting lineup for Sunday's battle against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro continues to hit well as the everyday shortstop for the Pirates, but he'll get a day of rest in the series finale against the Nationals. Tucupita Marcano will handle shortstop duties and hit seventh.
Apr 27 2023Castro went 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 6-2 victory over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro tied the game 2-2 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning before extending Pittsburgh's lead to 6-2 with a solo homer in the sixth. Castro had a big series against the Dodgers, going 4-for-10 with a double, a home run and four RBI. The 23-year-old Castro has gotten off to a solid start this year, slashing .279/.383/.471 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 81 plate appearances. He'll continue to serve as the Pirates' regular shortstop while Oneil Cruz (ankle) is sidelined.
Mar 30 2023Castro is absent from the Pirates' lineup for Thursday's opener against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro struggled this spring which caused him to lose the grip on his presumed starting role at second base. It will be Ji Hwan Bae at the keystone Thursday. The switch-hitting Castro figures to start at second against lefties, although it probably won't be a strict platoon.
Mar 26 2023The Pirates could begin the season with Castro in a rotation at second base, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was viewed as the favorite to land the second base job out of spring training, but he's struggled to a .226 average while striking out 19 times across 56 plate appearances. Neither Ji Hwan Bae nor Mark Mathias has stood out this spring either, so Castro should still see some playing time early on. However, he'll have to perform well to maintain his job.
Mar 4 2023Castro is in competition to start at second base along with Ji Hwan Bae and Tucupita Marcano, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro had an inconsistent season with the Pirates in 2022 -- he spent a large portion of the season in the minors -- but he posted a .788 OPS with 10 home runs across 200 plate appearances in the second half of the campaign. Through four games in spring training, Castro hasn't helped his cause by collecting only one hit and striking out five times in 13 plate appearances.
Sep 28 2022Castro isn't starting Wednesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro went 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts Tuesday and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Kevin Newman is taking over at the keystone and batting seventh.
Sep 26 2022Castro isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kevin Newman will play second base in the series opener. Castro has excelled in his last 11 games, hitting .273 with three home runs, nine RBI and three walks.
Sep 22 2022Castro went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored Wednesday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was the only Pirate to collect multiple hits Wednesday, and it was the third time he's done so in his last seven starts. Since being recalled on Aug. 9, Castro has hit .268 with 10 home runs, 16 runs scored and 20 RBI across 38 games. Though he's striking out at a 28.1 percent clip in that span, Castro is making the case for a role in Pittsburgh to begin the 2023 campaign.
Sep 20 2022Castro went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's 9-8 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro took Clay Holmes deep with two runners on base to put Pittsburgh up 8-4 in the eighth inning before Wil Crowe blew the game in the bottom of the ninth. The 23-year-old has reached base safely in all but four games since the beginning of September but is batting just .208 in 72 at-bats during that stretch. On the bright side, he has knocked in 14 batters in those games hitting in the middle of the Pittsburgh lineup and could be a good source of RBI in the final weeks of the season.
Sep 17 2022Castro went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro accounted for three of the Pirates' four hits and their lone run with his ninth-inning solo shot. The 23-year-old infielder has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, going 12-for-42 (.286) with four homers, three doubles, nine RBI and six runs scored in that span. He's been trending in the right direction lately, with the hot stretch putting him at a .244 batting average, .760 OPS, 10 homers, five steals, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored and seven doubles through 56 contests overall.
Sep 15 2022Castro went 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro took Nick Lodolo yard for a three-run home run in the third inning -- his ninth long ball of the season. He also added an RBI single in the ninth frame and chipped in his fifth stolen base. Castro's riding a seven-game hitting streak, during which he's hit .267 with three homers, eight RBI and five runs scored. Since being recalled to Pittsburgh Aug. 9, Castro has a solid .263/.320/.534 line in 118 at-bats.
Sep 10 2022Castro went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Five of Castro's seven homers on the year have come in his last 17 games, including a first-inning solo shot Saturday. In that span, he's hit .242 (15-for-62) with eight RBI, six runs scored, a double, five walks and 25 strikeouts. The infielder is up to a .232/.295/.417 slash line with 13 RBI, 14 runs scored and four stolen bases, and it appears he has the inside lane over Kevin Newman for playing time at second base down the stretch.
Aug 31 2022Castro is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Castro doesn't have a handle on a full-time gig at any position, he managed to stick in the lineup for 15 of the Pirates' previous 16 games while moving between second base and third base, with his only absence during that span coming while he served a suspension. Considering that Castro has slashed .318/.375/.591 with eight extra-base hits and two stolen bases since his promotion from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier this month, he looks poised to stick in a quasi-everyday role while his bat remains hot. He's likely just getting routine maintenance as the Pirates conclude their series in Milwaukee with a day game after a night game
Aug 30 2022Castro went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro continues to swing a hot bat, as four of his five home runs this season have come since he was recalled Aug. 9. He's also hit .317, with five RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases in that span. Though Castro isn't the everyday starter at either second or third base, the Pirates have made room for him in the lineup and that is likely to remain the case so long as he continues to hit.
Aug 28 2022Castro will return from a one-game suspension to start at third base and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The suspension stemmed from Castro being spotted with a cell phone in his uniform during an Aug. 9 contest against the Diamondbacks. The mishap hasn't prevented him from gaining traction as a regular in the Pittsburgh lineup, as he slashed .327/.375/.615 while starting in 15 of the last 16 games before serving his one-game ban. He'll fill in for a resting Kevin Newman in Sunday's series finale.
Aug 27 2022Castro will serve his one-game suspension Saturday against the Phillies, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was issued a one-game suspension after he had a cell phone in his pocket during an Aug. 9 game against the Diamondbacks, and he didn't have his punishment reduced following an appeal. He'll be unavailable for Saturday's matchup but should rejoin the team for Sunday's series finale in Philadelphia.
Aug 22 2022Castro went 1-for-3 with one steal in Monday's 2-1 loss against the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 23-year-old added to what has quietly been a strong stretch since being recalled on Aug. 8. His stolen base was his fourth on the season, and his base hit extends his hitting streak to four games. He is now batting .326 since being called up and is looking like he could be a sneaky middle infield option in deeper leagues while he still has the hot hand.
Aug 21 2022Castro went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and one steal in Saturday's 10-1 loss against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro homered off righty starter Justin Dunn with one out in the fourth to get the Pirates on the board. The second baseman has been finding his groove lately with a .333 average and 1.007 OPS over 36 at-bats in his last 10 games. The 23-year-old has significantly more power on the road with a .500 slugging percentage and six extra-base hits (three triples) in 52 at-bats compared to a .310 slugging percentage and three extra-base hits over 58 at-bats at home.
Aug 16 2022Castro went 0-for-3 with a walk Tuesday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has taken advantage of Ke'Bryan Hayes' (back) absence and appeared in the lineup for six of eight games since being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis. Hayes will now be sidelined until at least Aug. 24 after being placed on the injured list Tuesday, which should lock Castro in as the primary third baseman in Pittsburgh for the time being. Since returning to the majors, Castro has collected eight hits in 24 at-bats with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored.
Aug 12 2022Castro went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a triple in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has gone 4-for-12 with a homer and a pair of triples in four games since he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. He started the first two contests after his recall at second base, and he picked up a spot start at the hot corner Friday. For the season, the infielder is slashing .217/.286/.386 with a pair of homers, five RBI, eight runs scored, two stolen bases and three triples through 91 plate appearances. If the switch hitter can stay productive with the bat, he should carve out a fairly steady role despite not having a set position.
Aug 11 2022Castro went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and has started both games at second base since. On Wednesday, he tallied a two-out triple in the sixth inning and ultimately came around to score on a double by Greg Allen. Castro has hit only .205/.279/.321 across 86 plate appearances in the majors this season, though it seems as if the Pirates are interested in finding him consistent playing time across the final two months.
Aug 9 2022Castro was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and will start at second base Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 23-year-old spent most of May in the majors and posted a .565 OPS in 78 plate appearances before being demoted in early June, and he'll return to the big club ahead of Tuesday's contest in Arizona. Castro should fill a utility role while up with the Pirates. Cal Mitchell was optioned to Indianapolis in a corresponding move.
Jun 4 2022Castro was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has struggled defensively since being recalled May 12, committing five errors over 19 games. He has also struggled from the plate, batting .197 with only four extra-base hits over 71 at-bats. His demotion clears a spot on the major-league roster for Travis Swaggerty, who was called up from Indianapolis on Saturday and will make his MLB debut Sunday.
Jun 2 2022Castro went 2-for-2 with a a two-run home run and two additional RBI in an 8-4 victory versus the Dodgers on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro didn't start the contest, but he was summoned in the sixth inning after Josh VanMeter departed with a hand injury. Castro made the most of his time in the game, launching a two-run homer in the eighth inning and knocking a two-run single in the ninth. The long ball was his first of the campaign in his 62nd at-bat. He swatted five homers in 86 at-bats in his rookie campaign last season.
Jun 1 2022Castro isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has been an everyday player since joining the major-league club, but he'll get a breather after he hit .100 with a triple and seven strikeouts over the last five games. Diego Castillo will draw the start at shortstop and bat fifth.
May 25 2022Castro went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base Tuesday against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro reached base three times as he was also hit by a pitch. He stole his second base of the season in the ninth inning while pushing himself into scoring position. Castro has been Pittsburgh's primary shortstop since being recalled May 12 and has maintained a .211/.302/.263 line across 43 plate appearances. He has been particularly aggressive on the basepaths, as he has also been caught stealing on two occasions.
May 20 2022Castro went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Friday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro reached base with a two-out single in the fifth inning. He stole second base successfully -- his first of the season -- but then ended the frame by getting caught attempting to steal third base. Castro has been in the lineup regularly since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 12, though he has only five hits across 25 at-bats.
May 16 2022Castro will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has now drawn five consecutive starts, with four of them coming at shortstop. He appears to be ahead of Diego Castillo in the pecking order for work at the position, but both players will lose out on work at shortstop once Kevin Newman (groin) is ready to return from the 10-day injured list, likely at some point next week. When Newman is back, Castro may still have a pathway to playing time at the keystone over Josh VanMeter, but Castro will need to pick up the pace at the plate to ensure he sticks in an everyday role.
May 13 2022Castro went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Thursday against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to Thursday's game and started at shortstop while hitting ninth. It was his first appearance in the big leagues this season, though he accrued 93 plate appearances with Pittsburgh in 2021 and posted a .198/.258/.395 line. Cole Tucker was optioned in the corresponding move, so Castro should be able to find playing time at a combination of second base and shortstop until Kevin Newman (groin) is activated from the injured list.
May 12 2022Castro was recalled by the Pirates on Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro spent a stretch of time in the majors in the second half of last season but largely failed to impress, hitting .198/.258/.395 in 31 games. He did hit the ball hard, posting a 10.2 percent barrel rate and homering five times, but he didn't hit it often, striking out 29.0 percent of the time. That latter number looks especially poor next to his 6.5 percent walk rate. Through 29 games for Triple-A Indianapolis this season, he's hit .250/.397/.402, offsetting a still-elevated 26.7 percent strikeout rate with an excellent 17.2 percent walk rate. Contact and plate discipline look like they'll be the keys to whether or not he's given enough opportunities to let his power shine.
Aug 23 2021Castro was optioned to Double-A Altoona on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has been a regular starter at second base for the Pirates over the past month, but he has a .552 OPS since being promoted in late July and will head back to Double-A. The 22-year-old may need to finish the minor-league campaign strong with Altoona to have another chance at seeing playing time down the stretch for Pittsburgh.
Aug 22 2021Castro is not starting Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Consecutive hitless showings have lowered Castro's average to .185 since the beginning of August, a span during which he has 21 strikeouts and only one extra-base hit. Hoy Park is playing second base and batting eighth Sunday.
Aug 18 2021Castro is on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has gone 1-for-10 with eight strikeouts in his last three games, and he's hit just .188 in 16 games since the beginning of August. Wilmer Difo is playing second base and batting sixth Wednesday.
Aug 16 2021Castro went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder is 6-for-36 with one double and 2:15 BB:K since Aug. 3. Castro remains one of the team's prospects, but there's a chance he could see time back in Indianapolis, considering he skipped Triple-A. The 22-year-old also made his third error Sunday on a play that led to Milwaukee's first run.
Aug 12 2021Castro isn't starting Thursday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has gone hitless with four strikeouts in eight at-bats across his last three games. Wilmer Difo will start at second base and bat fifth.
Aug 10 2021Castro will be on the bench for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro sits for just the second time in 14 games since he was called up in late July. He's shown power with five homers in his small sample of 63 plate appearances this season, but he hasn't shown much else, as his lopsided .207/.270/.483 slash line is good for a roughly average 99 wRC+. He's striking out at a perfectly acceptable 23.8 percent clip, however, so his batting average could be set to rise soon. Hoy Park will be the second baseman Tuesday.
Aug 5 2021Castro isn't starting Thursday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro has gone 0-for-8 with a walk and five strikeouts across the last two games, and he'll get a chance to reset in Thursday's series opener. Hoy Park will start at the keystone and lead off.
Aug 2 2021Castro will hit seventh and play second base Monday night against Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro is batting .222 with five homers in 36 at-bats for Pittsburgh. He homered in his lone at-bat against Monday starter Eric Lauer. Castro figures to see semi-regular playing time as part of a rotation at second base for the rest of 2021.
Jul 28 2021Castro went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been boom or bust for Castro -- he has just five hits 23 plate appearances, but all five have left the yard. The 22-year-old second baseman has added seven RBI and six runs scored across nine games this season. He appears set to fill the void at the keystone left by Pittsburgh's trade of Adam Frazier to San Diego.
Jul 27 2021The Pirates recalled Castro from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder has gone 3-for-13 in four games since being sent don to the minors July 17. With the Pirates in 2021, he's hit .214 with three home runs and four RBI. A corresponding move has yet to be announced.
Jul 11 2021Castro went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The infielder hit a solo shot in the fifth inning to get Pittsburgh on the board, then pulled then within a run with his two-run blast in the sixth. While Castro has just three hits in 13 at-bats so far, all three of those knocks have left the yard. Castro could carve out more playing time if he continues to hit for power, but he'll likely be limited to a bench role when Phillip Evans (concussion) returns.
Jul 9 2021Castro went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's 13-4 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro entered the contest as a pinch hitter for pitcher Kyle Keller. The 22-year-old infielder hit a seventh-inning solo shot for his first major-league hit. Castro is likely to serve as depth while on the major-league roster, as Adam Frazier has a near-everyday role at second base.
Jul 6 2021Castro was recalled to the 26-man roster from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro was briefly called up to the majors in mid-April and went hitless in three at-bats before being sent to the club's alternate training site. He was assigned to Double-A when the minor-league season began and he remained with Altoona up until Tuesday. He'll skip Triple-A once again as he rejoins the Pirates, where he should provide the infield depth following Phillip Evans move to the 7-day concussion IL.
Apr 27 2021The Pirates optioned Castro to their alternate training site Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old infielder appeared in one game during his first cup of coffee in the majors, going 0-for-3 in an April 21 loss to the Tigers. He'll likely report to Triple-A Indianapolis or Double-A Altoona when the minor-league season begins next week, and he'll likely remain on the farm for much of the 2021 campaign unless the Pirates' infield depth is tested.
Apr 21 2021Castro is making his MLB debut in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Pirates. He is starting at third base and batting eighth. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates protected Castro from the Rule 5 draft by adding him to the 40-man roster this past offseason, and that will enable him to make his MLB debut before playing a game at Double-A or Triple-A. Castro hits the ball really hard, but has some major swing-and-miss concerns. He can play second base in addition to the hot corner and will likely head back to the minors in the near future.
Nov 20 2020Castro's contract was selected by the Pirates on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Castro is best known for posting some pretty elite exit velocity readings in the lower levels by middle infielder standards. He hit 14 home runs in 61 games at Low-A in 2019 as a 20-year-old, which is quite the feat, but he fell flat after a promotion to High-A. Castro will likely open the year at High-A or Double-A and could reach the majors in 2022.