WILKIN CASTILLO, CATCHER
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Born: June 1, 1984 Height: 6’0″ Weight: 200 Bats: Both Throws: Right Signed: Int’l free agent, 2002 (Diamondbacks) How Acquired: Minor league free agent Country: Dominican Republic Agent: N/A |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
Castillo’s main position has always been catcher, but he’s played all over the field, with significant time at third and second, and even some at short. His versatility was good enough to get him a 40-man roster spot for a couple years. He runs well for a catcher and is solid defensively, with an above-average arm. As a hitter, he’s generally made good contact and shown gap power, but his patience has ranged from marginal to bad. He hasn’t hit much since he turned 27 and a couple weak seasons in AAA led to him spending 2013-14 in the Mexican League. The Pirates signed Castillo to a minor league deal for 2015.
2003 Castillo had a good debut in the DSL, although at 19 he was a little old for the league. 2004 Castillo split his time between catcher and third in rookie ball, and during a brief time filling in at AAA. He also saw a little time at first and second, and in the outfield. He hit reasonably well with decent power, but his plate discipline took a nose dive. 2005 The Reds sent Castillo to low A for the year and he had a good season. His plate discipline improved markedly, mostly in the form of a very low K rate. He caught 60 games, throwing out 44% of base stealers, and also played 25 games in left. 2006 In the California League, Castillo’s hitting dropped off some, despite the high-offense environment. He spent time filling in at both the AA and AAA levels. He spent most of his time behind the plate, throwing out 41% of base stealers. 2007 The Diamondbacks kept Castillo in AA all year and he had a strong season, hitting for average and good gap power, although with a low walk rate. He caught 70 games and also played second and third. He even played ten games at short. His CS% was 45%. After the season, Arizona added him to their 40-man roster. 2008 Castillo spent most of the year in the Pacific Coast League, where his hitting tailed off. The Diamondbacks included him in a waiver deal in August for Adam Dunn and he got a September callup with the Reds. In the minors he split his time evenly between catcher and third, with some time at second and in left. With the Reds he played only second and left. 2009 The Reds sent Castillo to AAA to open the season, then called him up briefly twice in May and June. They called him up a third time in late June, but he suffered a torn labrum shortly after that and missed the rest of the season. His major league appearances were limited to three pinch-hit at-bats. After the season, the Reds outrighted him to AAA. 2010 Castillo spent the season in AAA, catching about half the time and spending most of the rest at second and third. He hit for decent power, but seldom walked. After the season he became a free agent and signed with Atlanta. 2011 The Braves mainly used Castillo as a catcher for their AAA affiliate, although he played other positions sometimes. His hitting was about the same as the year before, except he didn’t hit for much power. After the season he signed with the Rockies. 2012 The Rockies used Castillo almost exclusively behind the plate in AAA, where he caught nearly half the team’s games. He hit almost the same as the previous year, despite moving to the high-offense Pacific Coast League. 2013 Castillo signed with the Dodgers after the 2012 season, but they released him at the end of spring training. In late May, he caught on in the Mexican League, where he played a utility role and hit extremely well. 2014 Castillo returned to the Mexican League, again in a utility role. He didn’t hit at all and played only sparingly. 2015 Castillo got little playing time, appearing in just a dozen games behind the plate. The most noteworthy part of his season were his five games on the mound, during which he picked up two wins. Castillo will be a free agent again after the season. |
CONTRACT INFORMATION
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2015: Minor league contract |
PLAYER INFORMATION
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Signing Bonus: N/A MiLB Debut: 2003 MLB Debut: 9/2/2008 MiLB FA Eligible: 2015 MLB FA Eligible: 2021 Rule 5 Eligible: 2015 Added to 40-Man: 11/20/2007 (since removed) Options Remaining: 1 (USED: 2008, 2009) MLB Service Time: 0.143 |
TRANSACTIONS
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December 11, 2002: Signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent. November 20, 2007: Contract purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks. August 11, 2008: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks with Dallas Buck to the Cincinnati Reds for Adam Dunn and cash. November 9, 2009: Outrighted to AAA by the Cincinnati Reds. November 6, 2010: Became a free agent. November 19, 2010: Signed with the Atlanta Braves as a minor league free agent. November 2, 2011: Became a free agent. December 13, 2011: Signed with the Colorado Rockies as a minor league free agent. November 3, 2012: Became a free agent. November 16, 2012: Signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minor league free agent. March 30, 2013: Released by the Los Angeles Dodgers. January 30, 2015: Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent. |