Rodolfo Castro

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #20 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Castro became a sensation in 2021, six years after he signed for $150,000 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. Despite never appearing above High-A, he impressed at Pittsburgh’s alternate training site during the shutdown. He opened 2021 at Double-A Altoona, but the Pirates summoned him for a one-game MLB debut in April. He returned in July and his first five big league hits were homers—a modern era record.
  
  Scouting Report: Castro is an energetic free-swinger with considerable raw power from both sides of the plate. Such a profile comes with stark highs and lows. Castro posted just a .458 OPS over his final 22 games following his homer-happy start, striking out 31% of the time. Castro’s swing is geared for damage—his max exit velocity in Pittsburgh was 112.5 mph—but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t walk much. He’s a solid-average runner and is a serviceable defender at shortstop, second and third base.
  
  The Future: Castro could compete for Pittsburgh’s starting second base job in 2021 and has a future as utility infielder with thump.
  
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #29 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The shortened 2020 season was something of a breakout for Castro, who originally signed for $150,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and had yet to advance past high Class A. He showed a more mature, refined skill set at the Pirates' alternate training site, impressing the club enough that they added him to their 40-man roster after the season
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castro is very toolsy but has been very raw to this point, with swing-and-miss concerns at the plate and defensive inconsistencies in the infield. He improved his defensive work in 2020, and the Pirates believe he can play second base, shortstop and third base in the majors. He's a switch-hitter with above-average or better raw power from each side. He has above-average speed, giving him plenty of range in the field and allowing him to steal bases. The biggest downside to his game has been his strikeout tendencies and general lack of contact skills.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castro is unlikely to hit for average but can contribute with his power and defensive versatility. He will likely open 2021 back in the minors.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Castro became a sensation in 2021, six years after he signed for $150,000 as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. Despite never appearing above High-A, he impressed at Pittsburgh’s alternate training site during the shutdown. He opened 2021 at Double-A Altoona, but the Pirates summoned him for a one-game MLB debut in April. He returned in July and his first five big league hits were homers—a modern era record.
  
  Scouting Report: Castro is an energetic free-swinger with considerable raw power from both sides of the plate. Such a profile comes with stark highs and lows. Castro posted just a .458 OPS over his final 22 games following his homer-happy start, striking out 31% of the time. Castro’s swing is geared for damage—his max exit velocity in Pittsburgh was 112.5 mph—but he struggles with breaking balls and doesn’t walk much. He’s a solid-average runner and is a serviceable defender at shortstop, second and third base.
  
  The Future: Castro could compete for Pittsburgh’s starting second base job in 2021 and has a future as utility infielder with thump.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The shortened 2020 season was something of a breakout for Castro, who originally signed for $150,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and had yet to advance past high Class A. He showed a more mature, refined skill set at the Pirates' alternate training site, impressing the club enough that they added him to their 40-man roster after the season
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castro is very toolsy but has been very raw to this point, with swing-and-miss concerns at the plate and defensive inconsistencies in the infield. He improved his defensive work in 2020, and the Pirates believe he can play second base, shortstop and third base in the majors. He's a switch-hitter with above-average or better raw power from each side. He has above-average speed, giving him plenty of range in the field and allowing him to steal bases. The biggest downside to his game has been his strikeout tendencies and general lack of contact skills.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castro is unlikely to hit for average but can contribute with his power and defensive versatility. He will likely open 2021 back in the minors.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The shortened 2020 season was something of a breakout for Castro, who originally signed for $150,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and had yet to advance past high Class A. He showed a more mature, refined skill set at the Pirates' alternate training site, impressing the club enough that they added him to their 40-man roster after the season
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castro is very toolsy but has been very raw to this point, with swing-and-miss concerns at the plate and defensive inconsistencies in the infield. He improved his defensive work in 2020, and the Pirates believe he can play second base, shortstop and third base in the majors. He's a switch-hitter with above-average or better raw power from each side. He has above-average speed, giving him plenty of range in the field and allowing him to steal bases. The biggest downside to his game has been his strikeout tendencies and general lack of contact skills.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castro is unlikely to hit for average but can contribute with his power and defensive versatility. He will likely open 2021 back in the minors.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The shortened 2020 season was something of a breakout for Castro, who originally signed for $150,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 and had yet to advance past high Class A. He showed a more mature, refined skill set at the Pirates' alternate training site, impressing the club enough that they added him to their 40-man roster after the season
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Castro is very toolsy but has been very raw to this point, with swing-and-miss concerns at the plate and defensive inconsistencies in the infield. He improved his defensive work in 2020, and the Pirates believe he can play second base, shortstop and third base in the majors. He's a switch-hitter with above-average or better raw power from each side. He has above-average speed, giving him plenty of range in the field and allowing him to steal bases. The biggest downside to his game has been his strikeout tendencies and general lack of contact skills.
  
  THE FUTURE: Castro is unlikely to hit for average but can contribute with his power and defensive versatility. He will likely open 2021 back in the minors.