Demilio: Rodolfo Castro Should Have Everyday Role In 2023 (+)
The only thing that can stop Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro right now is seemingly a day of rest.
Manager Derek Shelton opted to give the 23-year-old Castro a day off on Wednesday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers, a game the Pirates lost 6-1 to conclude a 2-4 road trip.
In the four games prior to his day watching from the bench, Castro put together a four-game hit streak, totaling six hits. Two of those hits left the yard, and he raised his season OPS to a healthy .758.
The recent stretch of strong play highlights the bigger picture. Ever since he was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 9, Castro has been a bright spot in Pittsburgh’s lineup.
In 19 games since his promotion, Castro has slashed .318/.375/.591 with two doubles, two triples, four home runs and six RBIs. In eight of those games, Castro has had a multi-hit performance. He’s also showcased his athleticism with a pair of stolen bases in two attempts.
The only complaint the Pirates can really have against Castro is an incident in Arizona where his cellphone fell out of his back pocket during a game against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 9 after he was called up from Indy earlier in the day. Because of this, Castro served a one-game suspension, which was handed down from Major League Baseball.
His play has rightfully overshadowed that unusual occurrence, and at this rate, Castro deserves a chance to be in the Pirates’ lineup as an everyday player.
Castro burst onto the scene last season by becoming the first player in major league history to record a home run for each of his first five hits.
After that, Castro fizzled at the plate and finished the year with a .198 batting average and .653 OPS.
Those struggles carried over to his first stint with the Pirates this season which led to a demotion to Indianapolis in June.
Castro has been able to turn it around and been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster lineup. The switch-hitter has shown the ability to hit for average and power while displaying above-average speed.
The left side of the infield is surely locked up for next season — and likely beyond — by Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base and Oneil Cruz at shortstop. So where does Castro, a natural infielder, carve out an everyday role?
The easy answer is second base. For 2023, at least to begin the year, that makes a lot of sense.
The concern is Castro’s defense at the position has been spotty. In 12 games this season, Castro has posted minus-three defensive runs saved, matching his 2021 total in 20 games at the position.
I believe what Castro offers in terms of offense and speed outweighs his defensive inefficiencies. Especially so when you consider the Bucs’ woes at the plate this season.
Plus, if it came down to it, the Pirates could sub in a player like Kevin Newman late in games as a defensive replacement if need be.
The other benefit the Pirates have going for them in getting Castro consistent at bats is that the universal designated hitter is here to stay. If Castro can finish this season strong at the plate, why not get him reps as a DH next year?
Keep in mind the Pirates have a handful of young players who are capable second baseman currently in the minor leagues. Diego Castillo has already appeared at second base for the big league club this season, and Ji-hwan Bae is seemingly on the cusp of making his major league debut.
Two of Ben Cherington’s three first-round draft picks, Nick Gonzales and Termarr Johnson, project as second baseman long-term.
The logjam is a good problem to have, but let’s scale back the big-picture focus here for a minute.
Castro is making a strong case to be the Pirates’ opening day second baseman next year in Cincinnati on March 30.