Wilkin Castillo

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Wilkin Castillo

| image = Wilkin Castillo (cropped).jpg

| caption = Castillo with the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2005

| team =

| number =

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|1}}

| birth_place = Baní, Dominican Republic

| bats = Switch

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 2

| debutyear = 2008

| debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 25

| finalyear = 2019

| finalteam = Miami Marlins

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .286

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 4

| teams =

;As player

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2009}})
Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2019}})

;As coach

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})

}}

Wilkin Alexis Castillo (born June 1, 1984) is a Dominican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins. He made his MLB debut with Cincinnati in 2008. Listed at {{convert|6|ft|0|in}} and {{convert|215|lb|kg}}, Castillo throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.

Professional career

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Castillo was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He first played in Arizona's farm system in 2004, mostly in the rookie-level Pioneer League, while also appearing in six Triple-A games. He spent 2005 playing in Single–A and spent 2006 in High–A, Double-A, and Triple-A. In 2007, he played for the Double-A Mobile BayBears where he had a .302 batting average in 109 games. In 2008, Castillo was named the 14th-best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization,{{cite book|author=Baseball America|title=Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2009|publisher=Baseball America Inc.|location=Durham, North Carolina|year=2009|pages=15}} and played 104 games in Triple-A for the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League, batting .254 with six home runs and 47 RBI.

=Cincinnati Reds=

On August 14, 2008, Castillo was sent to the Cincinnati Reds as a part of the Adam Dunn trade, which took place August 11. On September 1, he was called up and made his MLB debut the following day against the Pittsburgh Pirates, flying out to left in his one at-bat as a pinch hitter. His first hit was on September 3, a single to right field off T. J. Beam of the Pirates, also as a pinch hitter. Castillo played in 18 MLB games in 2008, with 9 hits in 32 at-bats for a .281 average. He began the 2009 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats after failing to earn a spot on the Reds' roster.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090408081309/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/04/05/reds.bailey.ap/index.html Reds Send Bailey to the Minors] SI.com, April 5, 2009 On June 20, he was called up to the Reds and appeared in four games with two hits in three at-bats. He played in a total of 22 games with the Reds over the two seasons, with 11 hits in 35 at-bats for a .314 average.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/C/Pcastw001.htm |title=Wilkin Castillo |website=Retrosheet |accessdate=June 23, 2019}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On November 30, 2010, Castillo signed a minor league contract, that included an invitation to spring training, with the Atlanta Braves.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33153664/braves_signings/ |title=Braves signings |first=David |last=O'Brien |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |page=C3 |date=November 30, 2010 |accessdate=June 23, 2019 |via=newspapers.com}} He spent the 2011 season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, recording a slash line of .262/.285/.366 with five HR and 37 RBI in 80 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=castil001wil |title=Wilkin Castillo Minor, Winter, Fall, Mexican & Independent Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=June 23, 2019}}

=Colorado Rockies=

On December 16, 2011, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies and played in Triple-A for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, slashing .253/.273/.365 with four HR and 34 RBI in 74 games.

=Vaqueros Laguna=

On November 21, 2012, Castillo signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/11/minor-moves-athletics-nationals-dodgers.html |title=Minor Moves: Athletics, Nationals, Dodgers |work=MLB Trade Rumors |first=Mike |last=Axisa |date=November 21, 2012}} The Dodgers released him at the end of spring training.

On May 24, 2013, Castillo was signed to the Mexican League Triple-A Vaqueros Laguna team. In 51 games he hit .378/.419/.562 with six home runs and 28 RBI.

=Toros de Tijuana=

On April 1, 2014, Castillo was traded to the Toros de Tijuana. He was released on April 12. In eight games he hit .182/.206/.273 with no home runs and three RBI.

=Broncos de Reynosa=

On May 28, 2014, Castillo signed with the Broncos de Reynosa of the Mexican League. He was released on July 1.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} In 25 games he hit .215/.284/.333 with two home runs and eight RBI.

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On January 30, 2015, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/minor-moves-wall-castillo-volstad-burgos-flores.html|title=Minor Moves: Wall, Castillo, Volstad, Burgos, Flores|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 30, 2015|accessdate=January 31, 2015}} In 21 games for the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, he hit .250/.380/.300 with two RBI and one stolen base. Castillo elected free agency on November 6.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=milb.com|accessdate=November 6, 2015}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On February 26, 2016, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. In 51 games split between the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he batted a combined .229/.271/.312 with one home run, 12 RBI, and two stolen bases. Castillo 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=August 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}

=New York Yankees=

On January 7, 2017, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-wilkin-castillo-inks-minor-league-deal-with-yankees/|title=Yankees' Wilkin Castillo: Inks minor league deal with Yankees|newspaper=CBSSports.com|access-date=2017-01-07}} He played in 59 games split between the Double–A Trenton Thunder and Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, accumulating a .196/.243/.286 batting line with three home runs and 13 RBI. Castillo elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=April 28, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}

=Long Island Ducks=

On March 27, 2018, Castillo signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=1675|title=Ducks Ink Pair of Former Big Leaguers|work=Long Island Ducks|accessdate=March 27, 2018}} In 20 games he hit .314/.400/.486 with two home runs and 12 RBI.

=New York Yankees (second stint)=

On May 24, 2018, Castillo's contract was purchased by the New York Yankees organization.{{cite web|url=http://liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=1722|title=Wilkin Castillo's Contract Purchased by Yankees|work=Long Island Ducks|date=May 24, 2018|accessdate=May 24, 2018}} In 41 games for the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders, he hit .250/.277/.353 with two home runs and 13 RBI. Castillo elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}

=Miami Marlins=

On February 28, 2019, Castillo signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He opened the 2019 season with the New Orleans Baby Cakes. His contract was selected by the Marlins on June 21.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/marlins-wilkin-castillo-contract-selected-by-marlins/|title=Marlins' Wilkin Castillo: Contract selected by Marlins|author=RotoWire Staff|work=CBS Sports|date=June 21, 2019|accessdate=June 21, 2019}} The next day, in his first MLB game in 10 years and two days, Castillo hit a go-ahead two-run double in a Marlins 5–3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/wilkin-castillo-first-major-league-game-in-10-years |title=Catcher gets his first hit, RBI in 3,654 days |first=Paul |last=Casella |website=MLB.com |date=June 22, 2019 |accessdate=June 23, 2019}} On September 3, Castillo was designated for assignment. He elected free agency on October 14, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, Castillo re-signed with the Marlins organization on a minor league contract. He 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 13, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Castillo was released by the Marlins on August 18.

Post-playing career

Castillo was the bullpen catcher for the Oakland Athletics during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. On February 5, 2025, Castillo was hired to serve as the manager of the Dominican Summer League Athletics.{{Cite web |title=A's Announce Player Development Staff for 2025 |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-a-s-announce-player-development-staff-for-2025 |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}