Adrian Del Castillo

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Adrian Del Castillo

|image =

|team = Arizona Diamondbacks

|number = 25

|position = Catcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|27}}

|birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 7

|debutyear = 2024

|debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .313

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 4

|stat3label = Run batted in

|stat3value = 19

|teams =

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2024}}–present)

}}

Adrian Jose Del Castillo (born September 27, 1999) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

Del Castillo attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida, where he played baseball.{{Cite news|last=Villa|first=Walter|date=May 23, 2018|title=Major League Baseball expected to draft many young players from South Florida|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/article211774829.html|access-date=June 13, 2020}} As a senior in 2018, he hit .527 with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs.{{Cite web|title=Prep Baseball Report > PBR PLUS|url=https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/news/PBR/PBR-Announces-First-Team-All---PBR-9752381046|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=prepbaseballreport.com}} He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 36th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Miami.{{Cite web|title=Five Miami Signees Selected in MLB Draft|url=https://247sports.com/college/miami/Article/Five-Miami-Hurricanes-Signees-Selected-in-MLB-Draft-118889153/|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=InsideTheU|language=en-US}}

In 2019, Del Castillo's freshman season with the Miami Hurricanes, he started 61 games and hit .331/.418/.576 with 12 home runs and 72 runs batted in (RBIs).{{Cite news|last=Miller Degnan|first=Susan|date=February 12, 2020|title=Boom! Boom! Boom! Three reasons why Miami Hurricanes baseball is back among the elite|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article240240151.html|access-date=June 13, 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Miami baseball is loaded with talent headed into 2020 season|website=NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2020-01-04/miami-hurricanes-baseball-loaded-talent-headed-2020-season|access-date=June 13, 2020|language=en}} He spent a majority of his time in right field but also spent time at catcher, third base, and designated hitter.{{Cite news|last=Varela|first=Daniel A.|date=February 12, 2020|title=UM catcher Adrian Del Castillo speaks on media day|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article240240241.html|access-date=June 13, 2020}} He was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team and Second Team alongside earning Freshman-All American honors from various outlets.{{Cite web|last=Chirinos|first=Christy Cabrera|title=Four pitchers among UM players selected in MLB draft; freshmen earn All-American honors|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-base-notes-20190605-su7nlqflonctbbwsyltuw7tqaq-story.html|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=sun-sentinel.com|date=June 6, 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://theacc.com/news/2019/5/20/untitled-story.aspx#:~:text=GREENSBORO%2C%20N.C.%20(theACC.com,ACC%20Pitcher%20of%20the%20Year.|title=2019 ACC Baseball Season Honors Announced|website=theacc.com|date=May 20, 2019 |publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference|access-date=November 7, 2019}} That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen.{{Cite web|work=Cape Cod Times|title=Cape Cod Baseball League: Wareham, Orleans end regular season with a win|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/sports/20190801/cape-cod-baseball-league-wareham-orleans-end-regular-season-with-win|access-date=June 13, 2020|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Nine Hurricanes headed to prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League|url=https://247sports.com/college/miami/Article/Nine-Hurricanes-headed-to-prestigious-Cape-Cod-Baseball-League-132556409/|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=InsideTheU|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1331612&seasonid=31871 |title=#7 Adrian Del Castillo |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}} For his sophomore season in 2020, Del Castillo was expected to shift primarily to catching.{{Cite web|title=1 college baseball player-of-the-year contender at every position for the 2020 season|website=NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2020-02-07/college-baseball-preseason-player-year-contenders|access-date=June 13, 2020|language=en}} He hit .358 with two home runs and 15 RBIs over 16 starts before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=March 12, 2020|title=Once bright Miami baseball season ends due to Coronavirus pandemic|url=https://caneswarning.com/2020/03/12/once-bright-miami-baseball-season-ends-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic/|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Canes Warning|language=en-US}} For the 2021 season, Del Castillo appeared in 54 games in which he batted .275 with three home runs and 37 RBIs.{{cite web |last=Degnan |first=Susan Miller |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Miami AD assesses Gino DiMare and Hurricanes baseball as coach looks ahead to 2022 |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article251951218.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608121858/https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article251951218.html |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=Miami Herald}}

Professional career

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Del Castillo in the second round, with the 67th overall selection, of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Furones |first=David |date=July 12, 2021 |title=Miami Hurricanes catcher Adrian del Castillo taken by Diamondbacks in MLB draft |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-mlb-draft-del-castillo-20210712-h3kwmcmfc5f2hnuy7gjwqsxyzm-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716061656/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-mlb-draft-del-castillo-20210712-h3kwmcmfc5f2hnuy7gjwqsxyzm-story.html |archive-date=July 16, 2021 |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=South Florida Sun Sentinel}} He signed with the club for a $1 million signing bonus.{{Cite web |title=2021 Draft Tracker |url=https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/2021/all/round/CB-B |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=MLB.com}} To begin his professional career, he was assigned to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks before being promoted to the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West after two games.{{Cite web |last=((EdTheRed99)) |date=August 8, 2021 |title=Visalia Rawhide homestand vs Inland Empire 66ers |url=https://www.azsnakepit.com/2021/8/8/22616049/visalia-rawhide-homestand-vs-inland-empire-66ers |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=AZ Snake Pit |language=en}} Over 24 games for the 2021 season, Del Castillo slashed .265/.367/.422 with one home run, 14 RBI, and six doubles.

Del Castillo was assigned to the Hillsboro Hops of the High-A Northwest League to begin the 2022 season, but also played briefly with the ACL Diamondbacks and Visalia.{{cite web |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Hillsboro Hops' 2022 Opening Day Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/hillsboro/news/hillsboro-hops-2022-opening-day-roster |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=MiLB.com}} Over 86 games between the three teams, he batted .210 with seven home runs and 31 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Adrian Del Castillo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/adrian-del-castillo-680728 |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} Del Castillo opened the 2023 season with the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Texas League and was promoted to the Reno Aces of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in mid-July.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Michael |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Bliss, Melendez Headline D-backs Prospect Promotions |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/prospects/bliss-melendez-headline-dbacks-prospect-promotions |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=Arizona Diamondbacks On SI |language=en-US}} Over 100 games, he hit .263 with 14 home runs and 68 RBI.

Del Castillo was assigned to Reno to open the 2024 season.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Reno Aces Announce 2024 Opening Day Roster |url=https://www.milb.com/reno/news/reno-aces-announce-2024-opening-day-roster |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} In 100 games for Reno, he batted .319/.403/.608 with 24 home runs and 70 RBI. On August 6, 2024, Del Castillo was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=August 6, 2024 |title=Diamondbacks Select Adrian Del Castillo |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/08/diamondbacks-to-select-adrian-del-castillo.html |access-date=November 7, 2024 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On August 9, against the Philadelphia Phillies, Del Castillo became the first Diamondbacks player in franchise history to have a walk-off home run as their first in the major leagues.{{cite web |date=August 10, 2024 |title=D-backs' Adrian Del Castillo hits walk-off HR in 2nd MLB game |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40801596/diamondbacks-adrian-del-castillo-hits-walk-home-run-vs-phillies-second-mlb-game |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}} On August 18 against the Tampa Bay Rays, Del Castillo hit a three-run home run that tied the game in the ninth, but the Diamondbacks lost in extra innings.{{cite web |date=August 18, 2024 |title=Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Belts second homer since call-up |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-adrian-del-castillo-belts-second-homer-since-call-up/ |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=CBS Sports.com}} The next day against the Miami Marlins, Del Castillo hit his first career grand slam and recorded 6 RBI in front of his friends and family in his hometown of Miami.{{cite web |date=August 19, 2024 |title=Del Castillo continues torrid start with grand slam and 6 RBIs as Diamondbacks beat Marlins 9-6 |url=https://apnews.com/article/diamondbacks-marlins-score-295cc0ac93c26bab2daecadc06fefbc2 |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=AP News}} In 25 games during his rookie campaign, Del Castillo slashed .313/.368/.525 with four home runs and 19 RBI. After the season, he won the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award.{{cite web|last=Avallone|first=Michael|url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-2024|title=Here are the 2024 Triple-A All-Stars and Award Winners|website=Major League Baseball|date=October 2, 2024|access-date=October 3, 2024|archive-date=October 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002183839/https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/minor-league-baseball-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-2024|url-status=live}}

Del Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Reno to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks option catcher Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno|url=https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/del-castillo/3577826/|access-date=March 28, 2025|website=arizonasports.com|language=en}}