Fabio Castillo
| IP | 1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 18 |
| WHIP | 4 |
| BB/9 | 9 |
| SO/9 | 18 |
- Full name Fabio Castillo
- Born 02/19/1989 in Samana, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 09/02/2017
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Castillo burst onto the prospect landscape as an 18-year-old in 2007, when he threw 92-97 mph during his first extended action in the United States. Struggles with his mechanics, breaking ball and maturity caused his stock to drop over the next two years, and the Rangers gave up on the idea of making him a starter, converting him to the bullpen full-time in 2008. He turned a corner at Bakersfield last year, earning a late-season promotion in Frisco. Castillo's bread and butter is still his fastball, which routinely reaches 96-97 mph in relief. Texas had him scrap the curveball he once threw in favor of a high-80s slider. The pitch usually has quick, late lateral action, similar to a cutter, and when he's locked in the pitch drops straight down, the way Robb Nen's slider used to. Castillo also can throw a solid changeup, but he very seldom uses it. For years, the Rangers have been trying to get him to stay closed in his delivery, because he gets into trouble when his front leg opens up prematurely and his arm slot drops. Last year, they altered his mechanics to keep him from flying open and give him some deceptive, crossfire action. It's still not the cleanest delivery, but it works. Castillo needs to refine his secondary stuff and get a better feel for the finer points of pitching, such as fielding his position and holding runners. He'll open 2011 as a 22-year-old in Double-A, so he has time to smooth out the rough edges. The Rangers added him to their 40-man roster in November. -
Castillo had thrown just three innings in the U.S. before heading to Spokane in 2007, and though he took his lumps against much older competition, he still ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the league. During instructional league in 2006 and in extended spring last year, Castillo showed three quality pitches, highlighted by a plus fastball that parks at 92-95 mph and touches 97. His breaking ball was a true power curveball at 81-82 mph, and his 78-80 mph changeup had some split-finger action. But while Castillo still showed that lively, sinking fastball and promising changeup in Spokane, he struggled to get around his breaking ball, causing it to flatten out and look like a slider that spun but lacked action. He worked on correcting the problem in instructs after the season, but he'll need to focus on the curveball and becoming more consistent with his changeup in the spring. Though Castillo has some feel for pitching, he needs to improve his command. He has the potential to be a No. 2 starter or a closer in the big leagues down the road, but he'll likely get a shot at low Class A Clinton in 2008. -
The Rangers signed Castillo and catcher Cristian Santana as the jewels of a banner haul from the Dominican Republic in 2005. Texas gave Castillo a taste of the United States with one start in the Arizona League last June, and he struck out four in three shutout innings. The Rangers then sent him to the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, where he showed flashes of brilliance, striking out 14 in one outing. When he returned to Arizona for instructional league, he carried himself as a leader among the Rangers' young Latin contingent. With a big, physical frame reminiscent of Juan Guzman, Castillo might have the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system. He already pitches in the 94-97 mph range with his fastball, and he has shown a power curveball with tight downward action and feel for a changeup. Castillo is raw and needs experience, but he displays good aptitude and maturity for his age. He should spend 2007 with the AZL Rangers and might not be far from exploding onto the prospect landscape.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Spokane had the league's best collection of pitchers, and Castillo has the most upside. He has a durable frame and an easy delivery, producing fastballs that sit at 92-93 mph with heavy sink and occasional boring action. His breaking ball is a hard, short-breaking slider that parks at 83 mph and peaks at 86. Castillo's changeup is a rudimentary third pitch. He has below-average command because he doesn't repeat his delivery and tends to fly open, causing his elbow to drag and his stuff to flatten out. But his arm works well and there were few NWL arms who could match the life on his fastball. "He was the best guy they had," said the second AL scout of Castillo's stock among Spokane's stable of arms. "His fastball was solid with plus-plus life, and he was a real (tough guy to face). And he was around the plate with surprising feel for an 18-year-old to locate."
