Nick Castellanos

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #1 prospect in 2014
  The Tigers surrendered their 2010 first-round pick after signing free-agent reliever Jose Valverde the previous offseason, so they didn't pick until the supplemental first round at 44th overall. When Castellanos slid in the draft amidst reports he was demanding $6 million to sign, the Tigers were elated when he was still available with their first pick and signed him for $3.45 million. After an outstanding pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League in 2011, he opened the 2012 season by hitting over .400 through his first 55 games in the high Class A Florida State League. Castellanos struggled the second half of the season at Double-A Erie, but the Tigers pushed him to Triple-A Toledo to open 2013, where he had a solid season despite a slow start and made his major league debut as a September callup. Castellanos' bat is his calling card. He's a natural, instinctive hitter with strong wrists who eschews batting gloves and unleashes a loose, righthanded swing. He lets the ball travel deep and the bat head stays in the zone a long time, which helps him hit to all fields and wear out right-center field. He finishes his slight uppercut stroke with a high finish and generates plenty of loft with good feel for the barrel. He starts his swing by dropping his hands but his above-average bat speed and compact stroke allow him to catch up to good velocity. He has solid plate patience, makes in-game adjustments and has trimmed his strikeout rate, leading scouts to project him as a potential .300 hitter. The split among scouts centers around Castellanos' power potential. He has average raw power and some scouts think there isn't much more size for him to put on, so they see him as a 15-20 home run guy, whereas others look at his long frame and see 25-plus longball potential. He faces the difficult task of breaking into the majors while manning a position he didn't play in 2013. Castellanos started his pro career at third base, but the Tigers shifted him to left field midway through 2012. With the offseason trade of Prince Fielder, shifting Miguel Cabrera to first base, Castellanos will return to third, where he projects as a fringy but playable defender. He's a below-average runner with limited range, decent hands and an average arm, but at the very least he should give Detroit better defense than Cabrera. The Tigers are counting on Castellanos to be their Opening Day third baseman. While he'll need a refresher course on defense, his bat is good enough to make a run at the American League Rookie of the Year award. He could be a perennial all-star depending on how much power he develops.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #1 prospect in 2013
  A South Florida native, Castellanos spent his first two years of high school at American Heritage High, where he played with 2008 Royals first-round pick Eric Hosmer and 2012 Red Sox first-rounder Deven Marrero on a team that won the 2008 national title, then played his final two seasons at Archbishop McCarthy High, which won the 2011 national championship the year after he left. The Tigers had Castellanos ranked near the top of their 2010 draft board but didn't expect to get the opportunity to draft him after losing their first-round pick for signing free agent Jose Valverde. But Castellanos slid amid reports that he wanted $6 million to sign, allowing Detroit to grab him with the 44th overall selection. He signed at the deadline for a supplemental first round-record $3.45 million. After leading the low Class A Midwest League with 158 hits in his first full season, Castellanos started 2012 as the third-youngest player in the high Class A Florida State League. He hit .405 in 55 games to earn selection to the FSL all-star game, but he already had moved up to Double-A Erie by the time the contest took place. He did get to play in the Futures Game, however, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a walk to win the game's MVP award. The bat he used in the game was taken to the Hall of Fame. One of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, Castellanos has batted .316 while advancing quickly. With natural, loose, wristy actions, he's a rare righthander whose swing is described as pretty. He recognizes pitches well, lets balls travel deep and has no problems catching up to premium velocity. He makes loud contact and can hit all types of pitching. Castellanos has a tall, well-proportioned frame with wiry strength. His natural power is to right-center field, but he truly uses the entire ballpark. Of his 42 doubles and homers in 2012, 15 went to left field, 10 to center and 17 to right. Though more advanced pitchers got him to chase sliders away in Double-A, he has shown the ability to make adjustments. Overall, he has the upside of a .300 hitter who could hit 40 doubles and 20-25 homers annually. Defensively, Castellanos is still looking for a permanent home. He came up as a third baseman, and still might end up there eventually, but the Tigers moved him to right field at midseason. He has earned mixed reviews at third base. Some scouts think he has stiff actions and can be too timid on balls, often getting caught in between hops. Others felt he was solid at the hot corner with quick reactions and above-average arm strength. In mid-July, the Tigers shifted him to right field. He's still learning to read balls off the bat and to take clean routes on flyballs. With more experience, he could be an average outfielder. He has below-average speed but moves well for his size and runs the bases well. Moving Castellanos to the outfield makes sense in the short term. The Tigers have $116 million committed to Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez for 2013-14, tying up their infield corners and DH spot. Castellanos likely will start 2013 back in Double-A but it won't be long before he adds another impact bat to the middle of an already fearsome Detroit lineup.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #2 prospect in 2012
  The Tigers lost their 2010 first-round pick after signing Jose Valverde as a free agent prior to the season but still landed one of the top players on their board with their first selection (44th overall). Castellanos slid due to his bonus demands, then signed at the Aug. 16 deadline for a supplemental first-round record $3.45 million. After a slow start in April, Castellanos led the low Class A Midwest League with 158 hits in 2011. Castellanos has a good swing and hitting instincts, gets great extension and uses the opposite field well. Though he hit .312 last year, he also struck out 130 times, in part because he tends to chase pitches He showed more plate discipline and a better approach as the season went on, making in-game adjustments and staying inside the ball better. Castellanos isn't a major home run threat yet but barrels the ball well and tied for second in the MWL with 36 doubles. Once he gets stronger, pulls more pitches and adds more backspin, he should have at least average power and perhaps more. A high school shortstop, he's learning to play third base. He has solid speed, moves well and while there's length to his arm stroke his throws have good carry. Castellanos has all-star potential but needs at least two more years before he's ready for Detroit. He'll head to high Class A Lakeland in 2012.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #2 prospect in 2011
  Castellanos put himself on the map by winning the 2009 Under Armour All-American Game home run derby and then going 4-for-4 with four doubles in the showcase. He rose near the top of the Tigers' 2010 draft board, and they were thrilled to land him with their first pick, No. 44 overall. He signed two minutes before the Aug. 16 deadline for a supplemental first-round record $3.45 million bonus. Castellanos generates exciting loft and leverage, and he has the power to hit the ball out to any part of the park. He could hit 20-25 homers annually as he learns to turn on more pitches. Detroit also likes his swing and envisions him as a potential .300 hitter. Others don't think he'll make enough contact to hit for that high of an average. As with many tall, young hitters, his long arms leave him exposed against hard stuff on the inner half of the plate. A shortstop in high school, Castellanos immediately moved to third base as a pro. He made the transition seamlessly and projects as an average defender with an arm a tick above average. He's a solid runner. Castellanos got a brief taste of pro ball after signing and likely will begin 2011 in low Class A. He's probably at least three years away from Detroit.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2013
  Castellanos used his tall frame and long levers to mash a career-high 18 homers for Toldeo, showing a penchant for driving the ball to right-center field. His production tailed off in July (.212/.256/.301), though on the whole he walked more and struck out less than he ever had in full-season ball. Castellanos appeared more comfortable in left field this season after permanently shifting from third base during the Arizona Fall League in 2012. He committed three errors while throwing out eight runners in 130 games for the Mud Hens, though his arm isn?t strong enough for right field. ?The one thing he?s gotten better at is his focus on every pitch,? Tigers outfield and baserunning coordinator Gene Roof said.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #8 prospect in 2012
  Widely considered one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, Castellanos struggled this fall, batting .242 with a league-high 31 strikeouts over 99 at-bats. Still, the 20-year-old outfielder continued to garner praise from evaluators for his offensive potential. Scouts cited his natural barrel feel, bat control and ability to stay inside the ball. In addition, while he shows more doubles power at the moment, some scouts believe that the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Castellanos has the potential for above-average power output.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #5 prospect in 2012
  The FSL has had just one .400 hitter in its 82-year-history (Dan Keith in 1955), but Castellanos made a run at becoming the second until the Tigers promoted him in early June. He made impressive adjustments and consistent contact at the plate, showing easy power to the opposite field. He could hit 25 or more homers annually once he matures. League observers were mixed about his defense, with some believing he can become an average third baseman and others thinking he's too tentative. He made 13 errors in 51 games and often got caught between hops on grounders. He's a solid runner with a strong arm, but Detroit moved him to right field full-time in mid-July.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #4 prospect in 2012
  Few prospects began the season as locked-in as Castellanos, who led the minors with a .405 average through 55 games at high Class A Lakeland. He continued to hit after he arrived in Erie on June 4, batting .316/.332/.474 in his first 52 Double-A games before slumping to a .183 average in the final month. Castellanos has totaled 17 homers in two full minor league seasons, but scouts believe he'll develop plus power and go deep 20 or more times per year in the big leagues once he learns to pull the ball with regularity. His natural power stroke carries the ball to right-center field, as he demonstrated with a homer in the Futures Game. He barrels the ball consistently but is vulnerable to sliders low and away, contributing to hit .594 OPS versus EL righties. Though he's slow-footed with stiff actions and average arm strength at third base, Castellanos profiles as playable at the position. Nevertheless, the Tigers shifted him to right field on July 12, in part because of the presence of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder on Detroit's infield corners. Castellanos didn't win admirers in right field, though he ought to look more comfortable there given an entire offseason and spring training to gain experience.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #4 prospect in 2011
  Castellanos didn't look like he was worth anything close to his supplemental first-round record $3.45 million bonus in the first four weeks, when he hit .182/.240/.250. Once he settled down and started staying inside the ball and driving it to the opposite field, he batted .339/.403/.475 afterward and led the league with 158 hits. Some MWL observers thought Castellanos would max out with average power, while others though he could hit 20-plus homers annually once he pulls more pitches and imparts more backspin on them. He's a slightly above-average runner who moves well at third base and has a strong, accurate arm. "He barrels it up and should have power when he gets stronger," the second AL scout said. "He comes in real well on balls for his age. He could be an all-star. You look at that frame, and the kid could be Scott Rolen."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #21 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #45 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #65 prospect in 2011

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A South Florida native, Castellanos spent his first two years of high school at American Heritage High, where he played with 2008 Royals first-round pick Eric Hosmer and 2012 Red Sox first-rounder Deven Marrero on a team that won the 2008 national title, then played his final two seasons at Archbishop McCarthy High, which won the 2011 national championship the year after he left. The Tigers had Castellanos ranked near the top of their 2010 draft board but didn't expect to get the opportunity to draft him after losing their first-round pick for signing free agent Jose Valverde. But Castellanos slid amid reports that he wanted $6 million to sign, allowing Detroit to grab him with the 44th overall selection. He signed at the deadline for a supplemental first round-record $3.45 million. After leading the low Class A Midwest League with 158 hits in his first full season, Castellanos started 2012 as the third-youngest player in the high Class A Florida State League. He hit .405 in 55 games to earn selection to the FSL all-star game, but he already had moved up to Double-A Erie by the time the contest took place. He did get to play in the Futures Game, however, going 3-for-4 with a home run and a walk to win the game's MVP award. The bat he used in the game was taken to the Hall of Fame. Scouting Report: One of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, Castellanos has batted .316 while advancing quickly. With natural, loose, wristy actions, he's a rare righthander whose swing is described as pretty. He recognizes pitches well, lets balls travel deep and has no problems catching up to premium velocity. He makes loud contact and can hit all types of pitching. Castellanos has a tall, well-proportioned frame with wiry strength. His natural power is to right-center field, but he truly uses the entire ballpark. Though more advanced pitchers got him to chase sliders away in Double-A, he has shown the ability to make adjustments. Overall, he has the upside of a .300 hitter who could hit 40 doubles and 20-25 homers annually. Defensively, Castellanos is still looking for a permanent home. He came up as a third baseman, and still might end up there eventually, but the Tigers moved him to right field at midseason. He has earned mixed reviews at third base. Some scouts think he has stiff actions and can be too timid on balls, often getting caught in between hops. Others felt he was solid at the hot corner with quick reactions and above-average arm strength. In mid-July, the Tigers shifted him to right field. He's still learning to read balls off the bat and to take clean routes on flyballs. With more experience, he could be an average outfielder. He has below-average speed but moves well for his size and runs the bases well. The Future: Moving Castellanos to the outfield makes sense in the short term. The Tigers have $116 million committed to Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez for 2013-14, tying up their infield corners and DH spot. Castellanos likely will start 2013 back in Double-A but it won't be long before he adds another impact bat to the middle of an already fearsome Detroit lineup.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  Widely considered one of the best pure hitters in the minor leagues, Castellanos struggled this fall, batting .242 with a league-high 31 strikeouts over 99 at-bats. Still, the 20-year-old outfielder continued to garner praise from evaluators for his offensive potential. Scouts cited his natural barrel feel, bat control and ability to stay inside the ball. In addition, while he shows more doubles power at the moment, some scouts believe that the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Castellanos has the potential for above-average power output.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Tigers lost their 2010 first-round pick after signing Jose Valverde as a free agent prior to the season but still landed one of the top players on their board with their first selection (44th overall). Castellanos slid due to his bonus demands, then signed at the Aug. 16 deadline for a supplemental first-round record $3.45 million. After a slow start in April, Castellanos led the low Class A Midwest League with 158 hits in 2011. Scouting Report: Castellanos has a good swing and hitting instincts, gets great extension and uses the opposite field well. Though he hit .312 last year, he also struck out 130 times, in part because he tends to chase pitches He showed more plate discipline and a better approach as the season went on, making in-game adjustments and staying inside the ball better. Castellanos isn't a major home run threat yet but barrels the ball well and tied for second in the MWL with 36 doubles. Once he gets stronger, pulls more pitches and adds more backspin, he should have at least average power and perhaps more. A high school shortstop, he's learning to play third base. He has solid speed, moves well and while there's length to his arm stroke, his throws have good carry. The Future: Castellanos has all-star potential but needs at least two more years before he's ready for Detroit. He'll head to high Class A Lakeland in 2012.