Yunior Castillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #27 prospect in 2010
  While the Cardinals have dedicated hundreds of thousands of dollars to establishing a better toehold in the Dominican Republic, one of the finest prospects they've pulled from the island was in their backyard. Scouts first saw the wiry Castillo as a teen infielder playing at a baseball academy in Miami, a reasonable drive away from the Cardinals' training complex in Jupiter, Fla. There are coaches within the organization who believe Castillo is the finest defensive shortstop in the system. He brings the aggressiveness, surehanded play and spring-loaded arm needed at the position. His instincts, quick first step and plus speed give him plenty of range. Much like Ryan Jackson, his offensive potential is sketchy. Castillo is so raw at the plate that he didn't draw a single walk in 50 games at Rookie-level Johnson City in 2009. Farm and scouting director Jeff Luhnow visited him during the season to stress the need to take pitches and work some counts, then watched Castillo take several strikes. He has modest power and is still learning how to turn his speed into steals. If he can find a happy medium between his itchy trigger and patience this spring, he'll advance to low Class A.