BRADENTON, Fla. -- Diego Castillo has been to one major-league game in his life. Last year, the Venezuelan born utilityman made the trip from Altoona to PNC Park to watch the Pirates play.
His second major-league game will be in St. Louis Thursday because he has made the opening day roster, according to Derek Shelton.
"He deserves to be on our club," Shelton said. "He has performed at a level where he earned his way on our club in spring training. It was cool to see."
Castillo, ranked by Baseball America as the organization's No. 16 prospect, led the team with six home runs and 12 RBIs this spring, including homers off of two of the American League's finest pitchers, Gerrit Cole and Nathan Eovaldi.
He also had 13 hits, four of which game Monday in the Pirates' 9-3 win over the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.
He was acquired alongside Hoy Park last July from the Yankees in the Clay Holmes trade. The Pirates knew he would be a minor-league free agent at the end of the year and that they would have to re-sign him. At first, they tried to bring him back on a minor-league deal.
Castillo wasn't in favor.
"For a young player, he was just so -- very respectfully -- but so clear with me," Ben Cherington said. "Like ‘No, I'm gonna get a roster spot. I'm gonna make a team.’ And sure enough, he did. So good for him. He's had a great, great Spring Training."
News of Castillo making the team first leaked late Sunday night when Roney Calderon Jr., the Yankee scout who signed him, tweeted that he had made the club.
On Monday morning, Castillo denied knowing whether he had made the team, not wanting to reveal anything before the club had, but was getting hugs and congratulations at his locker from his teammates.
And if he did happen to make it...
"It would be awesome," he said, smiling but still holding enough of a poker face. "I’m gonna take so many pictures.”
After his four-hit performance, Castillo admitted it was tough to keep the secret, especially since if his
An infielder by trade, Castillo made his debut in the outfield Sunday, picking up an assist after starting to do work out there for the first time that morning.
When asked if he would be willing to give the outfield a shot, Castillo told Shelton, "100%, yeah. I'm a baseball player."
"He is. He is a baseball player," Shelton said. "You put him on the field, he's going to do his job."
While the outfield could be in play, the infield is where he will likely receive the bulk of his playing time since he can play second, third and shortstop. The middle infield jobs do not have any clear starters out of camp, and while Ke'Bryan Hayes is, as director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told traveling media Monday, trending towards "being available early in the season," the club has not guaranteed he will be ready for opening day because of his right ankle injury.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Schedule
THE INJURIES
• Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday that Ke'Bryan Hayes (right ankle) is trending toward "being available early in the season." While that could potentially mean opening day, that is not guaranteed.
• Anthony Alford, outfielder, is dealing with a right hand injury. He swung Saturday, but the expectation is he will not be ready for opening day and will start on the injured list.
• Greg Allen, outfielder, exited in the second inning with left hamstring discomfort after scoring on a sacrifice fly. He will go for an MRI for more imagining.
• Yoshi Tsutsugo, first baseman, also exited early with neck tightness. It was precautionary, and he is expected to play in the spring finale Tuesday. He is day-to-day.
• Sam Howard did not throwMonday due to back spasms. He is considered day-to-day.
THE ROSTER
Right-handed pitchers Chase DeJong and Eric Hanhold were reassigned to minor-league camp after the game Sunday. There are now 37 players in camp: 18 pitchers, four catchers, nine infielders, six outfielders.
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Cole Tucker, LF
2. Bryan Reynolds, CF
3. Kevin Newman, SS
4. Daniel Vogelbach, 1B
5. Diego Castillo, RF
6. Ben Gamel, DH
7. Hoy Park, 2B
8. Michael Pérez, C
9. Josh VanMeter, 3B
And for Brandon Hyde's Orioles:
1. Cedric Mullins, CF
2. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
3. Trey Mancini, LF
4. Rougned Odor, 2B
5. Ramón Urias, 3B
6. DJ Stewart, RF
7. Robinson Chirinos, C
8. Chris Owings, SS
9. Anthony Bemboom, DH
THE SCHEDULE
One to go. The Pirates will head to Clearwater for the spring finale, with an early start for the getaway game at 12:05 p.m. Zach Thompson will get a last audition for the rotation, facing off against Zach Eflin and the Phillies.
THE CONTENT
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