Signed by the Indians for $825,000 in July 2013, Castro has improved his prospect stock at every stage of his career despite being one of the youngest everyday players at his respective level. He started to put it all together as a 20-year-old in 2017, when he finished among the Carolina League leaders in hits (second), batting average (fourth) and runs (sixth). A move to Double-A in 2018 proved a challenge for Castro, but the Tigers saw enough offensive upside to get him in exchange for Leonys Martin at the Trade Deadline in July. He made a strong impression in his Tigers organizational debut following the trade, then blossomed at Triple-A Toledo in 2019 to earn a Triple-A All-Star selection and his Major League debut.
Castro is unique in the sense that he's a switch-hitter who produces similar splits. He knows how to get the barrel to the ball and makes line-drive contact from both sides of the plate. His .467 slugging percentage in Toledo in 2019 was easily his best of any full season, as he tied his season bests in home runs and triples while just missing his career high in doubles. A reliable if not spectacular defender, he took a step back defensively in 2019, an issue Tigers coaches chalked up to where he fields the ball in his mechanics.
Whether Castro fits at shortstop or second base is a subject of debate in Tigers circles, largely based on defense, but his bat is good enough to eventually find a place in Detroit’s lineup either setting the table up top or extending a lineup near the bottom. He could well end up with more time in Toledo in 2020 to shore up his fielding work.
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Signed by Indians for $825,000 in July 2013, Castro has improved his prospect stock at every stage of his career despite being one of the youngest everyday players at his respective level. He started to put it all together as a 20-year-old in 2017 when he finished among the Carolina League leaders in hits (second), batting average (fourth) and runs scored (sixth). The Indians rewarded him with a spot on their 40-man roster after the season. A move to Double-A in 2018 proved a challenge for Castro, but the Tigers saw enough offensive upside to get him in exchange for Leonys Martin at the Trade Deadline in July. He made a strong impression in his Tigers organizational debut following the trade, hitting .317/.353/.516 over 31 games and finishing the season at Triple-A Toledo.
Castro is unique in the sense that he's a switch-hitter who produces similar splits. He knows how to get the barrel to the ball and makes line-drive contact from both sides of the plate. He's begun to tap into some power as he's filled out physically, and given his remaining projection, double-digit home run totals seem like a possibility. While his approach continues to be highly aggressive, his strikeout and walk rates have held steady during his climb through the Minors. An above-average runner, Castro has stolen at least 16 bags in three straight seasons but still has gains to make in his efficiency.
A loose and athletic infielder, Castro has the necessary soft hands, actions and arm strength to stick at shortstop. An average defender, he showed more consistency in 2018 by committing just 15 errors after back-to-back 25-error campaigns, though he did regress on that front in his first full Triple-A campaign. With further improvements on both sides of the ball, Castro could develop into an everyday player.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013, Castro has improved his prospect stock in each of his four seasons despite being one the youngest everyday players for his level. After capturing Midwest League All-Star honors with Class A Lake County during his full-season debut, Castro broke out in earnest at age 20 in 2017, when he ranked among the Class A Advanced Carolina League leaders in hits (second), batting average (fourth) and runs scored (sixth). Following the season, the Indians added Castro to their 40-man roster. A move to Double-A at age 21 has been a bit tougher, but the Tigers saw enough offensive upside to get him in exchange for Leonys Martin at the Trade Deadline in July.
A dynamic switch-hitter who produced nearly equal splits in 2017, Castro projects for an above-average bat thanks to his innate barrel skills and his knack for generating hard, line-drive contact from both sides of the plate. While his approach continues to be highly aggressive, Castro did make strides on that front last season by improving both his strikeout and walk rates. He began to show some game power, too, hitting a career-best 11 home runs to surpass his combined total of 10 from his first three seasons, and he continued to offer value on the basepaths with his above-average speed.
Loose and athletic on the infield, Castro has the necessary soft hands, actions and arm strength to stick at shortstop. His overall consistency leaves something to be desired after consecutive 25-error seasons, though he did improve defensively in that regard in 2018 as he continues to add strength to his frame and learn to better control his body.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
The Indians have challenged Castro with aggressive assignments since signing him out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013. He made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League and advanced to Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley in 2015, where, for the second straight year, he was the youngest player on his team's roster. Castro earned Midwest League All-Star honors in 2016 during his full-season debut at Class A Lake County, and he garnered All-Star honors for a second straight year in '17 in the Carolina League.
A plus athlete with exciting tools, the switch-hitting Castro stands out on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he has feel for hitting from both sides, with good bat-to-ball skills and a line-drive-oriented swing. He shows good power to the gaps, with above-average speed that nets him plenty of doubles and triples, and scouts expect him to start clearing more fences as he grows into his wiry-athletic frame.
Castro has played shortstop exclusively since the start of 2015 after splitting time between both middle-infield positions in his pro debut. The chances he creates with his plus range played a part in his 25 errors in 2016, though he also was erratic at times and struggled to control his body. Castro should improve in that regard as he gains experience, and he has the necessary soft hands, range and arm strength to remain at the position long term.
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45
The Indians signed Castro out of the Dominican Republic in July 2013, and then gave him an aggressive assignment to the Rookie-level Arizona League the next year for his pro debut. He moved up to Class A Short Season Mahoning Valley last season, where, for the second straight year, he was the youngest player on his team's roster, and then made his full-season debut with Class A Lake County in 2016.
Castro's success belies his age, as he continues to impress both scouts and club officials alike with his development on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he has feel for hitting from both sides, with good bat-to-ball skills and a line-drive-oriented swing. His power is mostly to the gaps right now, though scouts expect him to clear more fences as he grows into his lean, athletic frame.
Casto's above-average speed translates on the basepaths as well as at shortstop, where he has the necessary soft hands, range and arm strength to remain long term.
Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
Castro signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2013 and made his professional debut the next year as a 17-year old in the Arizona League, skipping past the Dominican Summer League. He was the youngest member of the team that won the 2014 league title.
While Castro struggled offensively in his debut, he has the raw tools that can be turned into production in time. A switch-hitter, he sprays line drives from both sides of the plate and may have some pop once he physically matures. Defensively, he has good hands and infield actions, giving the Indians reason to believe he'll be able to stick at shortstop.
Castro earns praise for his baseball acumen and confidence. He's a long way from the big leagues, but he gives the Indians another promising young middle infielder.
