Luis Castillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #2 prospect in 2017
  The Giants kept Castillo in the Dominican Summer League for two years before jumping him to low Class A Augusta in 2014. The Marlins, who also have an affiliate in the South Atlantic League, acquired him (and righty Kendry Flores) in a December 2014 trade for veteran Casey McGehee. The Marlins traded Castillo in the Andrew Cashner-headlined deal with the Padres in July 2016, only to have Castillo returned because Colin Rea reported to Miami with a bad elbow and later had Tommy John surgery. Castillo first joined the rotation in July 2015 but maintains elite fastball velocity thanks to outstanding arm strength. He hit 101 mph in 2016 and sat consistently at 96-97. He has easy velocity, with a smooth delivery that helps his fastball jump on hitters, though it can be straight at times. Castillo throws from a three-quarters arm angle, which helps give his slider depth and some curveball-like action. It projects as an above-average pitch. Castillo has feel for a power changeup, but he's still finding the right grip. It has potential to be an average pitch as well. He has shown great makeup and the ability to overcome in-game adversity. With an overpowering fastball and the potential for two at-least-average secondary pitches, Castillo has moved from bullpen arm to potential mid-rotation starter. He should begin 2017 at Double-A Jacksonville.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #7 prospect in 2017
  Signed out of the Dominican Republic at age 18, Castillo was traded twice as a prospect despite hitting 100 mph and winning Florida State League pitcher-of-the-year honors in 2016. For a power pitcher, he has fine control and ranked first in walk rate (1.5 per nine innings) among pitchers who qualified for the SL ranking. The Reds called him to the majors from Double-A on June 23. Castillo sits 97 mph with his top-of-the-scale fastball and mixes in a swing-and-miss, high-80s changeup that keeps batters off balance whether located in the zone or as a chase pitch. With the help of Pensacola coach Danny Darwin, Castillo tightened his mid-80s slider to above-average and also added a mid-90s two-seamer as a groundball pitch. A high-energy, wiry athlete with incredible arm speed, Castillo must remain direct to the plate and avoid flying open to have big league command.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #11 prospect in 2016
  Acquired after the 2014 season in a trade for Casey McGehee, Castillo finished 2015 in the FSL but attracted little notice. That changed in 2016 as his velocity jumped, and the Padres acquired him from the Marlins in the Andrew Cashner deal. When Collin Rea came up with an elbow injury that the Padres had not disclosed previously, the Marlins got Castillo back for Rea, and he's one of the organization's best prospects. Castillo's loose arm and smooth delivery produce fastballs that reach 100 mph regularly when he starts, and he can sit at 96-98 with life. He also locates his slider and fills up the strike zone. His strength caught up with his athleticism and helped him repeat his release point more than ever in his career. Castillo's above-average changeup is his best secondary pitch, and he locates his fringe-average curve and below-average slider to give hitters another look. Jupiter manager Randy Ready praised Castillo for being a good teammate and leading the team's pitching staff on and off the field, as well as for his defensive ability.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Giants kept Castillo in the Dominican Summer League for two years before jumping him to low Class A Augusta in 2014. The Marlins, who also have an affiliate in the South Atlantic League, acquired him (and righty Kendry Flores) in a December 2014 trade for veteran Casey McGehee. The Marlins traded Castillo in the Andrew Cashner-headlined deal with the Padres in July 2016, only to have Castillo returned because Colin Rea reported to Miami with a bad elbow and later had Tommy John surgery. Scouting Report: Castillo first joined the rotation in July 2015 but maintains elite fastball velocity thanks to outstanding arm strength. He hit 101 mph in 2016 and sat consistently at 96-97. He has easy velocity, with a smooth delivery that helps his fastball jump on hitters, though it can be straight at times. Castillo throws from a three-quarters arm angle, which helps give his slider depth and some curveball-like action. It projects as an above-average pitch. Castillo has feel for a power changeup, but he's still finding the right grip. It has potential to be an average pitch as well. He has shown great makeup and the ability to overcome in-game adversity.
  
  The Future: With an overpowering fastball and the potential for two at-least-average secondary pitches, Castillo has moved from bullpen arm to potential mid-rotation starter. He should begin 2017 at Double-A Jacksonville.