Wahoos' Castillo piles up career-best 10 whiffs
Luis Castillo knows starting the season in Double-A was both a challenge and an opportunity."I think he realizes this level here separates the men from the boys, as I like to say," Pensacola pitching coach Danny Darwin said. "He knows all about it, that he needs to be able to
Luis Castillo knows starting the season in Double-A was both a challenge and an opportunity.
"I think he realizes this level here separates the men from the boys, as I like to say," Pensacola pitching coach Danny Darwin said. "He knows all about it, that he needs to be able to throw the breaking ball and go to the offspeed [any time] in the count. He's had a couple of rough outings, but he's [still young]."
On Wednesday night, the sixth-ranked Cincinnati prospect tossed a gem. Castillo set a career high with 10 strikeouts without a walk over seven innings in the Blue Wahoos' 2-1 win over the visiting Birmingham Barons. He allowed one run on five hits.
The 24-year-old right-hander, who came to the Reds from the Marlins as part of a January trade for Dan Straily, didn't factor in the decision, but stands 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA through seven starts this year. He was coming off an ugly game at Chattanooga on Friday in which he he gave up five earned runs without making it out of the second inning.
Box score
"Compared to last start, he was able to get all of his pitches in the strike zone. Last start, he was really a two-pitch pitcher, because he was unable to get the slider in the zone," Darwin said. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist of a hitter to figure out. If the pitcher is throwing either a fastball or a changeup, he can sit on a fastball if he gets ahead in the count."
The native of the Dominican Republic features a fastball in the upper 90s that he spots well, and Darwin -- a veteran of 21 big league seasons -- describes Castillo's changeup as "a plus Major League" pitch. A slider was added this spring.
"He set up the slider early and he had a great changeup," the pitching coach said. "He's got good command [with the fastball] down in the zone. We're working some with him on the north and south of it -- I'm trying to get him to elevate it some. He did a great job of that tonight, and he changed his grip on his slider from last time. That's going to be a key for him, if he can keep throwing that the way he did tonight.
"If everything works in order for him, he's going to be a good pitcher. ... He needs to just concentrate on being able to throw that slider consistently for strikes."
Castillo set down the side in order in the first inning and worked around trouble in the second, which ended when Pensacola left fielder Tyler Goeddel nailed Mason Robbins trying to score on a hit by Courtney Hawkins. From the third through the fifth, he cruised, despite hitting Keon Barnum after fanning two to start the fourth.
Birmingham got to him in the sixth. Chris O'Dowd opened the inning with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eddy Alvarez and scored on a single by No. 23 Chicago prospectJake Peter.
Castillo pushed through that inning and shut down potential trouble the next. Robbins led off with a single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by 17th-ranked White Sox prospect Trey Michalczewski. A two-out fielding error by Wahoos third baseman Josh VanMeter put runners on the corners. Castillo ended it by fanning O'Dowd.
"He still had the ball up in the mid-90s," Darwin said. "He did his job and gave us a chance to win, and that's all you can ask for from a starter."
Castillo threw 69 of 98 pitches for strikes, and righty Geoff Broussard (2-0) allowed a hit while striking out three over two innings for the win.
Alex Blandino, the Reds' No. 24 prospect, belted a walk-off solo homer -- his first of the year -- with one out in the ninth.
Josh Jackson is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @JoshJacksonMiLB.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring