P2Daily: Diego Castillo Highlighting the Early 2022 Pirates Roster

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a lot of moves to set their roster yesterday, but ultimately ended up short two roster spots. The first will be filled by the upcoming signing of backup catcher Andrew Knapp. The other addition will most likely be an outfielder, as the Pirates are expected to only have two active outfielders on the roster.

The Pirates don’t project to have a contending team, regardless of the final moves they make. The big focus this year will be on guys who could help a winning team in the future.

Diego Castillo has become a favorite for a lot of people to follow, after the impressive Spring Training he put up that led to him winning a roster spot. Castillo hit for a 1.281 OPS in 35 at-bats with six home runs, while playing several positions, including outfield.

The Pirates acquired Castillo last summer, along with utility player Hoy Park, in exchange for Clay Holmes. At the time, Castillo was in his age-23 season, and having his first year of statistical success in the minors, with an .850 OPS and 11 home runs with the Yankees Double-A affiliate. His previous season in 2019 saw a .639 OPS and four homers in High-A.

Ben Cherington has shown a tendency to grab guys like Castillo who are showing their first signs of success, in the hope that this is an indication of lasting change. Castillo didn’t stop with his hitting after the trade. He put up a .787 OPS with five more home runs in Altoona, then moved up to Indianapolis for 70 plate appearances, hitting for a .914 OPS and three home runs.

Now, after an impressive spring, Castillo will get his shot in the majors in his age-24 season.

Playing time should be easy for him to find. The Pirates have long-term holes at second base and shortstop, where Castillo has played the most. Second base is the more likely position for him. He could also see some time at third base, backing up Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Pirates had been getting him work in right field, and with a few outfielders down, that could be another area for playing time.

Castillo rates high on the prospect rankings list, finishing 16th in our recent top 30, and ranking 14th overall in the consensus rankings. In our rankings, he made it that high not due to a higher ceiling, but because he has a higher floor than most, and a chance to be an average starter in the majors, but a good chance to stick as a bench bat.

Castillo pretty much marks the point in the system where you can stop dreaming about an above-average starter ceiling, but can still dream about a potential starter. He’s not a guy who can make a huge impact in the Pirates’ future contending chances, but he is one of many in the system who could help boost that next contending team.

Maybe it’s not a coincidence that this seems to be the part in the system where the early prospect development under Cherington has shown a different trend. The Pirates sent guys like Oneil Cruz, Roansy Contreras, Matt Fraizer, and Travis Swaggerty down to the minors to get more work. All four universally rank higher than Castillo. Meanwhile, guys who rank just behind Castillo — Miguel Yajure, Rodolfo Castro, and Castillo himself — have gotten earlier looks in the majors than the previous group.

From the outside, it’s almost like they’re giving the top prospects extra time to develop to their ceilings. Meanwhile, the guys who have 50-grade ceilings, but are more likely to be 40-45 upsides, are getting opportunities without the need for extra development.

This isn’t to say that Castillo can’t get to that 50-grade, or exceed it. It just indicates the Pirates don’t see the same upside being likely with him as they do with guys like Cruz and Contreras.

It will certainly be fun this season to see if Castillo can prove those grades wrong, and emerge as a clear starting option for the future.