Marcos Castanon Stats & Scouting Report

AB	405
AVG	.227
OBP	.315
SLG	.373
HR	13

Full name Marcos Castañon
Born 03/23/1999 in San Bernardino, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School UC Santa Barbara
Drafted in the 12th round (370th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2021 (signed for $125,000).

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Castanon fell under the radar in high school playing in talent-rich Southern California, but he frequently outperformed more high-profile players and set his school record for most career hits. He continued that trend as a four-year starter at UC Santa Barbara and hit .412/.508/.742 this spring through the Gauchos’ regional opener despite missing almost two months with a broken hand. Castanon is a strong 6-foot, 195-pound infielder who just plain hits. He has solid bat speed, controls the strike zone and has a natural feel for the barrel. He crushes fastballs, stays on breaking balls and drives the ball with authority from center to left field. He began tapping into power more this year and hit a career-high eight home runs in only 25 games. There are no doubts about Castanon’s bat, but finding a position for him is challenging. He is a below-average runner, has a below-average arm and has poor range at second base because he doesn’t move well laterally. He has a thick build with a strong lower half and projects to slow down more with age. Castanon’s bat fits in the top-10 rounds, but his defensive limitations make him a Day Three draft candidate for most teams. He is a fourth-year junior considered likely to sign.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: Castanon has been an overachiever since his time in high school, where he frequently outperformed higher profile players in Southern California. He left Carter High in Rialto as the career hits leader and hit .404/.492/.716 his final year at UC Santa Barbara despite missing nearly two months with a broken hand. He signed for $125,000 as a 12th-round pick, was a California League all-star in 2022 and finished second in the system in hits (142) and total bases (234) as he rose to Double-A in 2023.

Scouting Report: Strong at a sturdy 6 feet, 195 pounds, Castanon has solid bat speed and natural timing, controls the strike zone and has a keen ability to put the barrel on the ball. He uses the big part of the field well and has begun tapping into more power with a swing adjustment that keeps him from pulling off of pitches. Castanon is a smart baserunner, but he has a thick lower half and well below-average speed. He’s a well below-average defender who lacks the range for second base or the arm strength for third base and will have to find a position. Castanon’s athleticism is lacking, but he’s scrappy and has always hit.

The Future: Castanon has a chance to develop into at least a platoon hitter who crushes lefties. He should see Triple-A El Paso in 2024.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Field: 30 | Arm: 40

Draft Prospects

Castanon fell under the radar in high school playing in talent-rich Southern California, but he frequently outperformed more high-profile players and set his school record for most career hits. He continued that trend as a four-year starter at UC Santa Barbara and hit .412/.508/.742 this spring through the Gauchos’ regional opener despite missing almost two months with a broken hand. Castanon is a strong 6-foot, 195-pound infielder who just plain hits. He has solid bat speed, controls the strike zone and has a natural feel for the barrel. He crushes fastballs, stays on breaking balls and drives the ball with authority from center to left field. He began tapping into power more this year and hit a career-high eight home runs in only 25 games. There are no doubts about Castanon’s bat, but finding a position for him is challenging. He is a below-average runner, has a below-average arm and has poor range at second base because he doesn’t move well laterally. He has a thick build with a strong lower half and projects to slow down more with age. Castanon’s bat fits in the top-10 rounds, but his defensive limitations make him a Day Three draft candidate for most teams. He is a fourth-year junior considered likely to sign.
Castanon was something of a hidden gem in high school who frequently outplayed more famous players in talent-rich Southern California. UC Santa Barbara was one of the few schools to recognize his talent, and he rewarded the Gauchos by becoming a three-year contributor in their middle infield. He led UCSB in hits (17), home runs (four) and RBI (17) through 15 games this spring before the season shut down. Castanon’s top asset is his bat. He has a strong lower half, swings hard to do damage and hits the ball a long way when he connects. He is extremely aggressive and prone to swinging and missing, but he still made enough contact to hit .308 in his final two seasons at UCSB. He did struggle with a wood bat in the Cape Cod League last summer, batting .189 with 30 strikeouts in 24 games. Castanon is a second baseman who projects to stay there with his thick build and below-average speed. He will go as far as his bat takes him.