Simón Castro

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Simón Castro

| image = Simon Castro Nashville 2017 no-hitter.jpg

| caption = Castro celebrating after pitching the final inning of a combined no-hitter with Nashville in 2017

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|4|9}}

| birth_place = San José de los Llanos, Dominican Republic

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 5

| debutyear = 2013

| debutteam = Chicago White Sox

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 30

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = Oakland Athletics

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 3–4

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.50

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 50

| teams =

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2013}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2015}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2017}})

}}

Simón Alfonseca Castro (born April 9, 1988) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Oakland Athletics.

Career

=San Diego Padres=

Castro was signed by the San Diego Padres as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2006. He was considered quite raw when signed, but the Padres liked his arm strength and projectability. After a poor pro debut in the Arizona Rookie League in '07, he was one of the better pitchers in the Northwest League in 2008, then broke out with a strong campaign in the Midwest League in '09.{{Cite web |url=http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXminorsXXplayer.cgiQQid=castro001sim&t=all_pitching |title=Simon Castro - m.bbref.com |access-date=2016-02-07 |archive-date=2016-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208072748/http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXminorsXXplayer.cgiQQid=castro001sim&t=all_pitching |url-status=dead }}

Named by Baseball America the top pitching prospect and 2nd overall prospect in the Padres organization prior to the 2010 season, he spent most of the season with the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League before being promoted to Triple-A for his final 2 starts of the season.

Following the 2010 season in which he went a combined 7–7 with a 3.28 ERA across 2 minor league stops, Castro was added to the Padres' 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft{{Cite web|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/3/3/2026429/prospect-smackdown-simon-castro-vs-casey-kelly-of-the-san-diego-padres|title = Prospect Smackdown: Simon Castro vs. Casey Kelly of the San Diego Padres|date = 3 March 2011}}{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101119&content_id=16160942&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121105211629/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101119&content_id=16160942&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb| archive-date = 2012-11-05| title = he Padres added right-handed pitchers Simon Castro, Brandon Gomes, Jeremy Hefner and Evan Scribner, outfielder Cedric Hunter, catcher Luis Martinez and infielder Jeudy Valdez. {{!}} MLB.com: News}}

=Chicago White Sox=

After struggling most of the 2011 season, on December 31, 2011, Castro, along with Pedro Hernández, were traded to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Carlos Quentin.{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111231&content_id=26249644&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023054408/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111231&content_id=26249644&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb| archive-date = 2013-10-23| title = White Sox acquire two prospects for Carlos Quentin {{!}} MLB.com: News}}

Castro split the 2012 season between the Triple-A Charlotte Knights and Double-A Birmingham Barons without making a major league appearance. He was assigned to Charlotte to begin the 2013 season.

On July 5, 2013, Castro made his Major League debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. He pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walked two and struck out four. Castro was outrighted off the White Sox roster on November 1, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/minor-moves-felix-pie-simon-castro.html|title=Minor Moves: Ryan Buchter, Wirfin Obispo, Felix Pie, Simon Castro|date=November 2013 }} He elected free agency on November 4.

=Colorado Rockies=

On April 25, 2014, Castro signed with the Colorado Rockies on a minor league deal.{{Cite web|url=http://tireball.com/mlb/2014/04/25/rockies-sign-rafael-betancourt-and-simon-castro-to-minor-league-deals/|title=Rockies sign Rafael Betancourt and Simon Castro to minor league deals | Tireball MLB News, Rumors and Opinions|date=25 April 2014}} He did not play in a game in 2014 due to injury. On October 15, 2014, Castro re-signed with the Rockies organization on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/minor-moves-guzman-abreu-phelps.html|title=Minor Moves: Guzman, Abreu, Phelps|date=20 October 2014 }} Castro was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to begin the season.

After posting a 3.79 ERA and 5–5 record with 74 strikeouts in Albuquerque, on August 23, 2015, Castro was selected to the active roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/minor-mlb-transactions-82315.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 8/23/15|date=23 August 2015 }} On October 14, 2015, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/rockies-outright-michael-mckenry-gonzalez-germen-simon-castro.html|title=Michael McKenry Rejects Outright Assignment from Rockies|date=14 October 2015 }} He had posted a 6.11 ERA in 11 appearances for the club in 2015. He elected free agency on October 15.

On October 19, 2015, Castro again re-signed with the Rockies on a minor league contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/simon-castro-501563|title = Simon Castro Stats, Fantasy & News|website = MLB.com}} He spent the season in Triple-A, pitching to a 3.38 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 50 appearances. Castro elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}

=Oakland Athletics=

On December 1, 2016, Castro signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics that included an invitation to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/athletics/new-president-dave-kaval-host-first-open-office-hours-tuesday|title=New A's President Dave Kaval to host first open office hours Tuesday|work=CSN Bay Area|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=December 1, 2016}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to begin the 2017 season.

Castro pitched the ninth inning of a combined no-hitter against the Omaha Storm Chasers on June 7, 2017. Starter Chris Smith pitched the first six innings and was then followed by Sean Doolittle, Tucker Healy, and Castro who each pitched one inning.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/sounds/news/sounds-no-hit-storm-chasers/c-235066110/t-196093378 |title=Sounds No-Hit Storm Chasers |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2017 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810052412/https://www.milb.com/sounds/news/sounds-no-hit-storm-chasers/c-235066110/t-196093378 |url-status=dead }} Castro made 26 appearances for Oakland in 2017, recording a 4.38 ERA with 35 strikeouts. He was outrighted to Triple-A on November 5, 2017, and then elected to become a free agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/as-outright-simon-castro-michael-brady-josh-smith.html|title=A's Outright Simon Castro, Michael Brady, Josh Smith|date=12 November 2017 }}

On January 10, 2018, Castro re-signed with the Athletics on a minor league contract that included an invitation to Spring Training.{{cite web|last=Slusser|first=Susan|url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Yusmeiro-Petit-officially-signs-with-A-s-happy-12414701.php|title=Yusmeiro Petit officially signs with A's, happy to be back in Bay Area|website=SF Gate|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=December 7, 2017}} He made 6 relief appearances with Triple-A Nashville, amassing a 7.56 ERA, before being released on May 3.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/simon-castro-501563|title=Simon Castro Stats, Highlights, Bio|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 3, 2018}}

=Sugar Land Skeeters=

On June 16, 2018, Castro signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 2 games for Sugar Land, he struggled to a 9.00 ERA with 2 strikeouts over 2 innings of relief. Castro was released by the Skeeters on August 17.