Diego Castillo (infielder)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Diego Castillo

|image = Diego Castillo (52351422300) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Castillo with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022

|team = New York Mets

|number =

|position = Shortstop / Second baseman

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|10|28}}

|birth_place = Barquisimeto, Venezuela

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 7

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .208

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 11

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 31

| teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2022}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2023}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2024}})

}}

Diego Alejandro Castillo (born October 28, 1997) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder in the New York Mets organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins.

Career

=New York Yankees=

The New York Yankees signed Castillo as an international free agent in December 2014. He received a $750,000 signing bonus.{{Cite web |last= |title=Diego Castillo {{!}} MLB Contracts & Salaries |url=https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/74661/diego-castillo |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=Spotrac |language=en}} He debuted professionally in the Dominican Summer League in 2015, then in the United States in the Gulf Coast League in 2016. He steadily advanced through the Yankees farm system, beginning the 2021 season with the Double-A Somerset Patriots.{{Cite web |title=Diego A. Castillo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/diego-a-castillo-660636 |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On July 26, 2021, the Yankees traded Castillo along with Hoy Park to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Clay Holmes.{{Cite web |date=July 26, 2021 |title=Yankees deal 2 prospects for Pirates RHP Holmes |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31891751/new-york-yankees-acquire-reliever-clay-holmes-pittsburgh-pirates-2-minor-league-infielders |access-date= |website=ESPN.com |language=}} Castillo slashed .278/.355/.487 with 19 home runs, 55 runs batted in (RBIs), and nine stolen bases in 105 games split between the Double-A Altoona Curve, Triple-A Indianapolis Indians and Somerset. The Pirates added Castillo to their 40-man roster after the 2021 season.{{Cite web |last=Gorman |first=Kevin |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Pirates add IF Diego Castillo to 40-man roster, designate RHP Jose Soriano for assignment |url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-add-if-diego-castillo-to-40-man-roster-designate-rhp-jose-soriano-for-assignment/ |access-date= |website=TribLIVE.com |language=}}

On April 4, 2022, it was announced that Castillo had made the Pirates’ Opening Day roster.{{Cite web|title=Castillo calls his shot: Prospect cracks OD roster|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/diego-castillo-makes-pirates-opening-day-roster|access-date=January 14, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} On April 9, Castillo collected his first career hit, lacing a pinch-hit double off of St. Louis Cardinals reliever T. J. McFarland.{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2022 |title=Diego Castillo's first career hit |url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/video/diego-castillo-s-first-career-hit |website=MLB.com}} He played in 96 games in his rookie campaign, hitting .206/.251/.382 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs. He was designated for assignment on December 20, 2022.{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2022 |title=Hedges' fit in Pittsburgh more than just on the field |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-hedges-on-fit-with-pirates |website=MLB.com}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On December 23, 2022, Castillo was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Scott Randall.{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-trade-diego-castillo-to-arizona-for-pitching-prospect-rangers-claim-nick-mears/|title=Pirates trade Diego Castillo to Arizona for pitching prospect; Rangers claim Nick Mears|first=Kevin|last=Gorman|date=December 23, 2022|website=TribLIVE.com}} Castillo was optioned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks' Diego Castillo: Shifts to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-diego-castillo-shifts-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 22, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He appeared in one game for Arizona. He spent almost the entire season in Reno, hitting .313/.431/.410 with 3 home runs, 72 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 124 games. The Diamondbacks designated Castillo for assignment on December 22.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/diamondbacks-designate-diego-castillo-for-assignment.html|title=Diamondbacks Designate Diego Castillo For Assignment|date=December 22, 2023|website=MLB Trade Rumors}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

On January 5, 2024, the New York Mets claimed Castillo off waivers.{{cite news |title=Diego Castillo claimed by Mets off waivers from Diamondbacks |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39248326/diego-castillo-claimed-mets-waivers-diamondbacks |access-date=January 6, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=January 5, 2024}} One week later, the Mets designated him for assignment after signing of Sean Manaea.{{Cite web|title=Mets' Diego Castillo: Dumped from 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-diego-castillo-dumped-from-40-man-roster/|access-date=January 19, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=January 13, 2024 |language=en}} On January 19, Castillo was again claimed off waivers, this time by the New York Yankees,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/yankees-claim-diego-castillo-designate-jeter-downs-for-assignment.html|title=Yankees Claim Diego Castillo, Designate Jeter Downs For Assignment|date=January 19, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} who then designated him for assignment on January 29.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/yankees-designate-diego-castillo-for-assignment.html|title=Yankees Designate Diego Castillo For Assignment|date=January 29, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} The Philadelphia Phillies then claimed him on February 5{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/phillies-claim-diego-castillo-from-yankees.html|title=Phillies Claim Diego Castillo From Yankees|date=February 5, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} but designated him for assignment on February 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/phillies-claim-kaleb-ort-designate-diego-castillo.html|title=Phillies Claim Kaleb Ort, Designate Diego Castillo|date=February 13, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} On February 16, Castillo was again claimed off waivers, this time by the Baltimore Orioles,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/orioles-claim-diego-castillo-waivers-phillies-dfa-livan-soto.html|title=Orioles Claim Diego Castillo, Designate Livan Soto|date=February 16, 2024|website=MLB Trade Rumors}} who designated him for assignment two days later. He cleared waivers after being placed on waivers five times in the offseason and was sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on February 20.{{Cite web |date=February 18, 2024 |title=Orioles Acquire Matt Krook From Yankees |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/orioles-acquire-matt-krook-from-yankees.html |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Orioles' Diego Castillo: Assigned to Norfolk|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-diego-castillo-assigned-to-norfolk/|access-date=February 20, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=February 20, 2024 |language=en}} In three games for Norfolk, Castillo went 4-for-13 (.308) with no home runs, no RBI, and three walks.

=Minnesota Twins=

On April 5, 2024, Castillo was traded to the Minnesota Twins for cash.{{Cite web|title=Orioles Trade Diego Castillo To Twins|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/04/orioles-trade-diego-castillo-twins.html|access-date=April 5, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 5, 2024 |language=en}} In 71 games for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, he batted .272/.379/.404 with five home runs, 30 RBI, and seven stolen bases. On July 14, the Twins selected Castillo's contract, adding him to their major league roster.{{Cite web|title=Twins Designate Caleb Boushley For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/twins-designate-caleb-boushley-for-assignment.html|access-date=July 15, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=July 14, 2024 |language=en}} In four games for Minnesota, he went 2-for-6 (.333) with two RBI. Castillo was designated for assignment by the Twins on July 24.{{Cite web|title=Twins Designate Diego A. Castillo For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/twins-designate-diego-a-castillo-for-assignment.html|access-date=July 24, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to St. Paul on July 26.{{Cite web|title=Twins' Diego A. Castillo: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-diego-a-castillo-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=July 26, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=July 26, 2024 |language=en}} Castillo elected free agency on October 1.{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2024 |title=Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-01/p-1 |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=MiLB.com |language=}}{{Cite web |date=October 1, 2024 |title=34 Players Elect Free Agency |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/34-players-elect-free-agency.html |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

=New York Mets=

On March 13, 2025, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.{{Cite web|title=Mets Sign Diego Castillo To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/mets-sign-diego-castillo-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=March 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}