Rodolfo Castro

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Rodolfo Castro

|image = Rodolfo Castro (51506268454) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Castro with the Indianapolis Indians in 2021

|team = Philadelphia Phillies

|number =

|position = Second baseman / Shortstop

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|5|21}}

|birth_place = El Llano, Dominican Republic

|bats = Switch

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 21

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .219

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 22

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 59

|teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2023}})

}}

Rodolfo Castro (born May 21, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

==Minor leagues==

Castro signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.piratesprospects.com/2016/03/2015-international-signing-review.html |title=2015 Pirates International Signing Review |date=31 March 2016 |publisher=Pirates Prospects |access-date=December 11, 2020}} He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Pirates, batting .271 with two home runs and 29 RBIs over 56 games. In 2017, he played with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, slashing .277/.344/.479 with six home runs and 32 RBIs, and in 2018, he played for the West Virginia Power, hitting .231 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/rodolfo-castro-learns-to-tame-his-aggression/|title=Rodolfo Castro Learns To Tame His Aggression|first=Tim|last=Williams|website=www.baseballamerica.com|date=28 May 2019 }} Castro split the 2019 season with both the Greensboro Grasshoppers (with whom he was named a South Atlantic League All-Star) and the Bradenton Marauders, slashing a combined .242/.298/.456 with 19 home runs and 73 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/sports/hoppers-rodolfo-castro-a-catalyst-for-northern-divisions-all-star-victory/article_174d1276-4fac-5ec4-b511-97b3ebad7977.html |title=Hoppers' Rodolfo Castro a catalyst for Northern Division's All-Star victory | Sports |publisher=greensboro.com |date=June 18, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://liber.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/11/17/Pirates-Rule-5-draft-preview-Ben-Cherington-Max-Kranick-Rodolfo-Castro-prospects/stories/202011170122 |title=Rule 5 draft: Pirates' outlook complicated by circumstances | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |publisher=Liber.post-gazette.com |access-date=December 11, 2020}}

==Major leagues==

On November 20, 2020, the Pirates added Castro to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/pirates-designate-trevor-williams-for-assignment.html |title=Pirates Designate Trevor Williams For Assignment |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}} He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on April 21, 2021. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman in the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.{{Cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/2738135/2021/07/29/pirates-rookie-rodolfo-castro-makes-unlikely-major-league-home-run-history-the-guys-incredible/|title=Pirates rookie Rodolfo Castro makes unlikely major-league home run history: 'The guy's incredible'|first=Rob|last=Biertempfel|work=The New York Times }} He was optioned to the Altoona Curve in mid-July, but was recalled shortly after the Pirates traded Adam Frazier, with Castro being Frazier's replacement at second base.{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2021/07/27/pirates-rodolfo-castro-cody-ponce-tyler-anderson-derek-shelton-adam-frazier-clay-holmes-kranick/stories/202107270148|title=Pirates recall Rodolfo Castro, Cody Ponce, start Luis Oviedo on the mound amid chaotic trade deadline|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} On July 28, Castro hit two home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. These were both his fourth and fifth major league home runs and his fourth and fifth major league hits, making him the first major league player since at least 1901 whose first five major league hits were all home runs.{{Cite web|title=Win-win for Crew as offense set to get boost|first=Adam|last=McCalvy|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-hot-hitting-leads-to-series-win-over-pirates|access-date=2021-07-29|website=MLB.com|language=en}} In 31 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .198/.258/.395 with 5 homers and 8 RBI.

In 2022, Castro played in 71 games for Pittsburgh, hitting .233/.299/.427 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Rodolfo Castro - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rodolfo-castro/21987/stats?position=2B/SS|access-date=November 4, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} He began the 2023 season with the Pirates, slashing .228/.317/.355 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Phillies' Rodolfo Castro: Traded to Philly|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rodolfo-castro-traded-to-philly/|access-date=November 4, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 2023 |language=en}}

On August 9th, 2022, Castro was playing a game when he slid into 3rd base, which would force a cellphone to slide out of his pocket. As a result, he would later serve a 1 game suspension as well as pay an undisclosed fine.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On August 1, 2023, Castro was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher Bailey Falter.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/michael-lorenzen-traded-to-phillies | title=Phillies add All-Star Lorenzen, switch-hitting Castro at Deadline | website=MLB.com }} In 14 games for the Phillies, he batted .100/.156/.100 with no home runs and two RBI.

Castro was optioned to the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Phillies Announce More Roster Cuts With Some Big Names Sent Home|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/phillies-announce-more-roster-cuts-with-some-big-names-sent-home-brad9|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=si.com|date=19 March 2024 |language=en}} In 19 games split between Lehigh, the High–A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Single–A Clearwater Threshers, and rookie–level Florida Complex League Phillies, he slashed a cumulative .221/.286/.351 with three home runs and nine RBI. On August 22, 2024, Castro was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web|title=Phillies' Rodolfo Castro: Out for season|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rodolfo-castro-out-for-season/amp/|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On November 4, Castro was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Lehigh Valley. Two days later, he elected free agency.{{cite news |title=Phillies announce roster moves |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-phillies-announce-roster-moves-x2617 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=November 4, 2024 |access-date=November 4, 2024}}

On November 21, 2024, Castro re-signed with the Phillies on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|title=Phillies Sign Joel Kuhnel To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/phillies-sign-joel-kuhnel-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=January 14, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 14, 2025 |language=en}}