After hearing the scathing reviews for The Love Guru, maybe I should quit referencing any Mike Myers films. Anywho, I’ve done a little asking/digging around as to what the deal is with the latest super sleeper Richard Castillo, the 18-year-old RHP who’s made the jump from to A ball just a season removed from pitching in the Venezuelan Summer League. Here’s the skinny on the skinny righty—
He possesses a sharp fastball, 89-90, which is good considering he’s only 18 and listed at 5’11”, 165. As he fills out I would expect him to add to his velocity. His curveball is a very nice offering, and it is the pitch he is known for. What has made Castillo so impressive is his terrific command of both his fastball and curve, and his fearless ability to throw the curveball in any count. He shows a poise that is advanced beyond his years.
Castillo threw 62.2 innings in 17 games last year as a 17 year old in the VSL. He had 60 K’s in 62.2 IP, with 22 walks and posted a 1.72 ERA. (3.05 FIP) He impressed his coaches enough in extended spring training to get the call up to Palm Beach, where he had 19 K’s in 16 innings, with 12 hits and 8 walks. In his first start for the Quad Cities, he threw 5 innings of no hit ball, with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk. Throwing no more then 4 innings at a time max for Palm Beach, Castillo was sent down to the QC to be stretched out a little more, as they have recently stopped the tandem starting system.
Castillo was by far the youngest player on the Palm Beach roster, and now is the youngest on the QC roster. Obviously anytime you see someone of his age bypass rookie ball and have the kind of success he is having in the early going you take notice. The Cardinals have been willing to throw challenges at him, and so far he’s met them.
Filed under: Richard Castillo | Tagged: Richard Castillo
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
theredbaaron
Good Stuff!
Speaking of uncomprehendaly skinny pitchers–where the heck is Rosales?
I hate that the web address pops into my name from time to time…
Cardinals really need to outspend the Athletics for Michel Inoa
Mike, is your remark intended facetiously?
I wonder, if Castillo continues to dominate the MWL, will the Cards send him back to Palm Beach again? I’d love to see it, say, for the season’s final month–but I don’t want the kid throwing more than 80-85 pitches in a game this year. In fact, I don’t want him cracking triple digits in pitch counts until 2010.
Thanks for the report, Erik!
I guess coming up with a teenage pitching phenom doesn’t have to cost several million dollars. (Better by far to spread around the Draft&Devel. money, rather than roll the dice on one kid who costs more than rebuilding Steve Austin.) (Ask your parents.)
Yes. I would stop referencing Mike Myers movies if I were you. Just trust me on this one.
Thanks for the report on Castillo. I know the track record on undersized righthanders is less than stellar, but I have high hopes for both Castillo and Rosales.
Jess Todd isn’t exactly a big guy
Todd is not tall, but a solid 210.
So far, the Cards have not signed a bonus baby who has emerged, to this point. Jose Martinez was probably cheap because slow. Castillo cheap because 5′11.
Someday, as they spend more, some bonus babies will start to play strongly. And we hope some more low profile guys will continue to impress too, like Castillo.
The Cards have been mentioned as being in on Yorman Rodriguez. That would be a good get as many scouts feel he is the best position player in the draft.
you meant signing period, right lassie?
Not entirely Bob. We need an arm like Michel Inoa in our system.
There’s something about throwing 4 Million dollars at a 16 year old that i don’t like. I would love to know how many of the highest payed 16 year old signees actually pan out into something descent.
True PCG, but it’s not like the big club is spending a whole lot in free agency, so why not gamble some of that money on a super high ceiling kid?
If the low budget A’s are that high on Inoa, than he must be a heckuva player. It’s not as big of a risk for the Yankees or Red Sox, but for the A’s to believe that much in him say something to me.
Billie Beane is decisive. And he wants to market his franchise as clever. He is playing in a 2 team market and the Giants used to be much more popular. Beane has to position the As as more loveable. What does he do? He makes a big gesture on Inoa.
I do not doubt Inoa is good, but the Cards are not going to get into Showboating. We are going to look to make the best yielding investments. This probably does not mean plunking down $5M on one kid, no matter how good he is. We are going to invest smaller amounts in many more guys.
I really doubt Beane does anything w/ showboating in mind. I think the man wants to win ball games.
Baseball is a business. As such, Beane needs to think about competing with the Giants for paying fans. His franchise has traditionally been much poorer. SF is the more affluent side of the Bay. SF pays Barry Bonds and Barry Zito too much money, whereas Beane cannot even pay slot bonuses in 2002 for all his high picks.
There need be no conflict between showboating and wanting to win. The advertising function is to get the good news message broadcast to fans: while the Giants labor under the burden of the Zito contract, the As are signing the best prospect of the decade from Latin America. Its a good message for the Bay area fan base.
And if Inoa is indeed this good, then it may not be a bad move.
Beane cannot outbid the BoSox for D-Mat or the next D-Mat. He has to pick his opportunities. He does not have to make recommendations and suck up to a Steinbrenner, Beane can just act. Go for it, Billie boy.
Yep, I meant signing period, sorry had draft on the brain.
When did the Giants ever pay Bonds too much money?
I agree with you somewhat, in that Beane is trying to make a splash and giving a kid 4M is sure to do that. Remember last year when everyone was mad the Cards didn’t pick Porcello, well this kid will get less than half of what Porcello will end up making after his options for ‘11 and ‘12 are picked up. Now you are putting all your eggs in one basket with this kid, but he does have phenomenal projection. It probably is more smart to sign about 45 100k guys for the same price, but those guys won’t get the fans excited like Iona will, at least the first few years.
I believe it will be Castillo’s turn Sat. night - he last pitched Monday - in Clinton. Erik will you get a chance for a 1st hand view
Clinton is quite a drive, like an hour and a half, so i don’t think i’d be able to make it considering some other things on my plate right now.
Thanks right - I got confused - I was thinking Cedar Rapids not Clinton
[...] Redbirds has a write up about Castillo and Scout.com is featuring its take on Castillo for free right now. The writeup from Future Redbirds [...]