Ryan Casteel

{{Infobox MLB player

|name=Ryan Casteel

|team=

|number=

|position=Catcher / First baseman

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1991|6|6}}

|birth_place=Chattanooga, Tennessee

}}

Ryan Alexander Casteel (born June 6, 1991) is an American former professional baseball catcher who spent his career in the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, and Seattle Mariners organizations.

Amateur career

Casteel attended Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee. After graduating, he went unselected in the 2009 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft under the belief he would attend the University of Tennessee. Though he had previously accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Tennessee and play college baseball for the Tennessee Volunteers on a scholarship, Casteel rejected the scholarship, and enrolled at Cleveland State Community College, also in Cleveland.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jun/08/mcdade-casteel-have-draft-ideas/|title=McDade, Casteel have draft ideas|work=timesfreepress.com|accessdate=February 12, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-86714258|title=Texas League notebook: Colorado Rockies' Ryan Casteel comes back strong with Tulsa Drillers – Texas League News|work=Texas League|access-date=October 24, 2014}} This way, Casteel would be eligible for the MLB Draft earlier.

Professional career

=Colorado Rockies=

The Colorado Rockies selected Casteel in the 17th round, with the 530th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career with the Casper Ghosts of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and had a .305 batting average. The next year, he had a .273 batting average alongside 1 home run, 30 RBI, and 8 stolen bases in 56 games for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Low–A Northwest League. In 2012, he played in 71 games for the Asheville Tourists of the Single–A South Atlantic League, and batted .279/.332/.414 with 2 home runs and 28 RBI.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/jan/07/still-on-track-casteel-moving-up-in-minor-leagues/|title=Still on track: Casteel moving up in minor leagues|work=timesfreepress.com|accessdate=October 24, 2014}}

In 2013, he played for the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League. He was named a midseason All-Star and the California League's Catcher of the Year after hitting .270/.352/.523 with career–highs in home runs (22) and RBI (76) in 108 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.modbee.com/2013/08/28/2889990_beeks-blog-casteel-went-from-back.html?rh=1|title=Beek's Blog: Casteel went from back-up to top of league's catchers|accessdate=October 24, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024183511/http://www.modbee.com/2013/08/28/2889990_beeks-blog-casteel-went-from-back.html?rh=1|archivedate=October 24, 2014|df=mdy-all}} He then played for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) for the 2013–14 ABL season.{{cite web|url=http://m.rockies.mlb.com/news/article/63803308/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025051746/http://m.rockies.mlb.com/news/article/63803308/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2014|title=Casteel, Massey continue development in Melbourne|work=Colorado Rockies|accessdate=October 24, 2014}} Casteel played in the 2013 Australian Baseball League All-Star Gamehttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sports/melbourne-aces-all-star-ryan-casteel-excited-about-taking-on-australias-best/story-fnibbyyv-1226783941367?nk=9349b278095bfe5a2c1f8e9c5b70cb4d {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} and won the Helms Award as the ABL's Most Valuable Player.{{cite web | title=Casteel named Helms winner at BADAs | url=http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140414&content_id=72053770&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l595&sid=l595 | work=Australian Baseball League | accessdate=October 17, 2014 | author=Tyler Maun | date=April 14, 2014 | quote=Casteel named Helms winner at BADAs | archive-date=October 28, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028115502/http://web.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140414&content_id=72053770&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l595&sid=l595 | url-status=dead }}

In 2014, Casteel played for the Tulsa Drillers of the Double–A Texas League, where he was named an All-Star. In 113 games, he hit .280/.341/.445 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI. After the year, the Rockies assigned Casteel to the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|url=http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25873975/article-Rockies-choose-Ryan-Casteel-to-play-in-AFL?instance=most_recommended|title=Cleveland Daily Banner – Rockies choose Ryan Casteel to play in AFL|accessdate=October 24, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024190800/http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/25873975/article-Rockies-choose-Ryan-Casteel-to-play-in-AFL?instance=most_recommended|archivedate=October 24, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Casteel spent the majority of the 2015 season with the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, missing a chunk of the year with a quadriceps injury. Playing in 42 games split between Albuquerque, the Double–A New Britain Rock Cats, and the Low–A Boise Hawks, he accumulated a .306/.313/.425 batting line with 2 home runs and 22 RBI.{{cite web|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/587508/sports/isotopes-catcher-enjoying-his-alter-egos-fame.html|title=Isotopes catcher enjoying his alter ego's fame|author=Ken Sickenger - Journal Staff Writer|publisher=|accessdate=February 12, 2016}}

The Rockies invited Casteel to major league spring training in 2016.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Ryan Casteel: Receives invitation to spring training|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-ryan-casteel-receives-invitation-to-spring-training/amp/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} After going 2–for–24 (.083) with 8 strikeouts, he was assigned to Triple–A Albuquerque to begin the season.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Ryan Casteel: Hits .083 in spring training|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-ryan-casteel-hits-083-in-spring-training/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 43 games for the Isotopes, he slashed .230/.273/.368 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI. On July 4, 2016, Casteel was released by the Rockies organization.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Casteel Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/14056-ryan-casteel/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On July 7, 2016, Casteel signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Casteel Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/ryan-casteel-592205|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} He spent the remainder of the year with the Double–A Jackson Generals, hitting .243/.306/.351 with 3 home runs and 28 RBI across 50 contests. Casteel elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

On December 16, 2016, Casteel re–signed with the Mariners on a new minor league contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-dec-10-22-2/#RqTSwuaBayDGT0yV.97|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10-22|last=Eddy|first=Matt|work=baseballamerica.com|date=December 24, 2016|accessdate=December 24, 2016|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602221533/http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-dec-10-22-2/#RqTSwuaBayDGT0yV.97|url-status=dead}} He spent the 2017 season with the Double–A Arkansas Travelers, playing in 100 games and hitting .272/.323/.429 with 12 home runs and 61 RBI. Casteel elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Lancaster Barnstormers=

On February 7, 2018, Casteel signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball{{cite web|url=http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/sandford-frias-return-to-lancaster/|title=Sandford, Frias Return to Lancaster|date=February 7, 2018|publisher=Lancaster Barnstormers|accessdate=February 7, 2018}} He played in 104 games for Lancaster, batting .321/.383/.523 with 16 home runs and 70 RBI. Casteel was named an All–Star for the team, and was also named the Barnstormers Player of the Year for the season.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Casteel Signs With Atlanta|url=https://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/ryan-casteel-signs-with-atlanta/|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=lancasterbarnstormers.com|language=en}} He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

=Atlanta Braves=

On January 25, 2019, Casteel signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/ryan-casteel-signs-with-atlanta/|title=Ryan Casteel Signs with Atlanta|work=Lancaster Barnstormers|date=January 25, 2019|accessdate=January 25, 2019}} He played in 118 games for the Double–A Mississippi Braves, batting .263/.334/.477 with 21 home runs and 73 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Casteel - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ryan-casteel/sa549286/stats?position=C/1B|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} Casteel did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

On March 14, 2021, Casteel re-signed with the Braves organization on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=3&year=2021|title=Major League Baseball Transactions}} He was assigned to the Braves' Triple–A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, for whom he played in 68 games and hit .224/.299/.417 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Casteel - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/page.asp?PT=player&Id=156952|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} He elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} On November 29, he again re–signed with Atlanta on a minor league deal.{{Cite web|title=They Might Be Stripers: Braves' Acquisitions that Could Land on the Gwinnett Roster in 2022|url=https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/gwinnett/news/they-might-be-stripers-braves-acquisitions-that-could-land-on-the-gwinnett-roste|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} Casteel played in 69 games for Gwinnett in 2022, batting .217/.303/.481 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Braves' Ryan Casteel: Bound for minor-league camp|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/braves-ryan-casteel-bound-for-minor-league-camp/|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

On November 1, 2022, Casteel again re–signed with the Braves on a new minor league contract.{{Cite web|title=Braves re-sign seven minor league free agents|url=https://www.batterypower.com/platform/amp/atlanta-braves-prospects-minor-leagues/2022/11/1/23435888/braves-re-sign-eight-minor-league-free-agents-hendrik-clementina-ryan-casteel-danny-young|access-date=July 24, 2023|website=batterypower.com|language=en}} He played in only one game for Triple–A Gwinnett in 2023. In 2024, Casteel made 14 appearances, hitting .213/.245/.362 with two home runs and six RBI. On July 19, 2024, it was announced that Casteel had retired. He was placed on the Voluntarily Retired List by the Gwinnett Stripers.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/gwinnett/roster/transactions |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Minor League Baseball |language=en}}

Coaching career

Following his retirement, Casteel was hired as a coach for the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers, for the 2024 season.

On February 11, 2025, Casteel was named as a coach for the Florida Complex League Braves, Atlanta's rookie-level affiliate.{{Cite web|title=Braves Announce 2025 Minor League Coaching Staffs|url=https://athlonsports.com/mlb/atlanta-braves/braves-announce-2025-minor-league-coaching-staffs-|access-date=February 17, 2025|website=athlonsports.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Casteel is married to his wife Bethany.{{cite web|url=http://www.wdef.com/content/sports/localsports/story/Casteel-and-Massey-Friendship-Grows-During-Winter/svbIwApF_U2WWBSwOEUvDA.cspx|title=Casteel and Massey Friendship Grows During Winter Ball in Australia|accessdate=October 24, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024182702/http://www.wdef.com/content/sports/localsports/story/Casteel-and-Massey-Friendship-Grows-During-Winter/svbIwApF_U2WWBSwOEUvDA.cspx|archivedate=October 24, 2014|df=mdy-all}}