Jesus Castillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #12 prospect in 2018
  What seemed like an innocuous deal at the 2016 trade deadline could pay huge dividends if Castillo, acquired from the Cubs for reliever Joe Smith, continues to develop as he did over the past year. After pitching to a 2.87 ERA in 2016, Castillo advanced from low Class A to high Class A to Double-A in 2017, recording a 3.32 ERA with 118 strikeouts and 26 walks in 124.2 innings. Castillo has excellent command of a low-90s fastball with heavy sink that breaks a lot of bats and induces plenty of ground balls. Neither his mid-70s curveball nor his low-80s changeup are true swing-and-miss pitches, but he throws them for strikes consistently. Castillo has a very loose arm and is able to repeat a high-three-quarters delivery that has some deception. He has a great understanding of the need to attack hitters and get ahead in the count. The Angels believe Castillo can put on another 25 pounds, and with added size and strength, should come more velocity. Castillo could remain in the rotation if his curveball becomes a go-to secondary pitch, but most scouts project him as a reliever. Out of the pen he could rely even more on his ground-ball inducing sinker. He'll start 2018 back at Double-A.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #23 prospect in 2017
  Castillo was one of the Diamondbacks' top international signees in 2011, receiving a $250,000 bonus. The native Venezuelan was included in two trades for major leaguers before ever making it to full-season ball, first being swapped by the D-backs to the Cubs in 2013 for outfielder Tony Campana and then sent by the Cubs to the Angels at the 2016 trade deadline for reliever Joe Smith. Castillo began 2016 at short-season and excelled, so the Angels bumped him to low Class A after the trade. He made a positive first impression in the system by going 3-2, 2.43 over six starts at Burlington. Castillo stands out for his feel for pitching and is an efficient, projectable strike thrower with a very loose arm who regularly repeats his high-three-quarters delivery. Castillo uses a fastball that sits 89-93 mph and plays up because of the good extension he gets on his pitches. His plus changeup shows good action, but his curveball is still inconsistent. Castillo is expected to return to Burlington for more seasoning, with a chance to reach high Class A Inland Empire later in the year.