WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2010
VSL:  6-0-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 54 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 5.7 K/9

Castro dominated the VSL, although he didn’t fan a lot of hitters.

2011
R:  2-0-0, 0.72 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 25 IP, 0.7 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
A-:  2-0-0, 4.76 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 17 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 5.8 K/9

Opened in extended spring training and went to West Virginia for one game as a fill-in after the Power had a couple of lengthy extra inning games.  He then headed to the GCL Bucs for the start of their season.  He dominated there, with a .209 opponents’ average and just two walks in five starts.  The Pirates moved him up to State College, where he was much more hittable, opponents batting .290 against him.  Nevertheless, he moved up again to West Virginia, probably because the Power were limiting the innings of some of their pitchers and a couple were hurt or had been promoted.  Castro had gopher ball problems there, allowing four in 15.1 IP.  He also struck out fewer than he walked.

2012
A-:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 9.4 K/9
A:  4-6-1, 4.76 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 45.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 8.3 K/9

Castro opened the season in the West Virginia bullpen.  He pitched decently in April, but started getting hammered in May, posting an ERA of 8.16.  The Pirates sent him back to extended spring training at the beginning of June; I’m not sure whether he was hurt.  He eventually pitched a few times for State College, then went back to West Virginia in mid-August.  He pitched well after his return, allowing just eight hits and two walks, and fanning 15, in 13.1 IP.  Right-handed batters hit about 60 points higher against him than left-handed batters.

The move to the bullpen probably shows that the Pirates consider Castro a marginal prospect at most.  He’ll open 2013 in the West Virginia rotation, but could move to the bullpen when Luis Heredia moves up from extended spring training.