Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 165 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/04/2006
Country: Venezuela
How Acquired: International Free Agent, 2023
Bonus: $245,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2027
Minor League Free Agency: 2029
Options Left: 3
Overview
Castillo was one of the more promising pitchers the Pirates signed in January 2023. He’s a good athlete with room to add strength, the ability to throw three pitches for strikes, and above-average spin rates. He throws the four standard pitches. The fastball sits at about 92 mph, and he gets good whiff rates on his three secondary pitches.
2023-24
Castillo had an excellent debut season. He had a 1.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.7 K/9. Castillo pitched well nearly every time out. He had one bad game in which he allowed five earned runs, and one other in which he gave up four unearned runs. In his remaining nine games, he allowed just three runs, two earned, over 31.2 IP.
The Pirates moved Castillo up to the FCL in 2024 and he mostly pitched as a starter. He was very effective, posting a 2.86 ERA, although his K rate was low at 7.0 K/9. Castillo spent about the last month of the season at Bradenton and his stuff didn’t seem to play well there. In 14 innings, he gave up 26 hits and had a 9.64 ERA.
Stats
Transactions
January 15, 2023: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.