Diego Castillo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #16 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Castillo was a skilled, instinctual infielder when the Yankees signed him as part of their historic 2014 international signing class that shattered their bonus pool at the time. But Castillo moved slowly through New York’s system until his breakout season in 2021, when he hit 19 homers across two levels. The Yankees dealt Castillo and shortstop Hoy Park to Pittsburgh at the deadline for reliever Clay Holmes, and the Pirates added Castillo to their 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Castillo always possessed strong barrel awareness and feel for contact, but without power production. He used baseball’s shutdown in 2020 to add strength to his frame and work diligently with the Yankees’ hitting instructors to tamp down his overaggressive approach, learning which pitches to seek and destroy. The changes resulted in higher exit velocities and noticeably more damage, suggesting average power potential. Castillo also turned in a 10% walk rate, the best of his career. He’s a below-average runner, and evaluators don’t envision Castillo sticking at shortstop, but he’s fundamentally sound and has an average arm at both second and third base.
  
  The Future: Some evaluators now see Castillo as a future big league hitter without a true defensive home. He’s one of several utility types with a shot at winning the Pirates’ second base job in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #27 prospect in 2018
  Castillo was as fundamentally sound as shortstops come when he signed three years ago and has moved deliberately through the system. The Yankees thought enough of him this year to skip him past both half-season clubs--Pulaski and Staten Island--and place him among a pack of their youngest prospects at low Class A Charleston. Castillo is never going to be mistaken for a bopper, but he has impressive bat-to-ball skills. He's struck out just 101 times in 867 career at-bats, including just 51 in 463 trips this season. Part of the reason for such a successful contact rate involved his unwillingness to go deep in counts. The Yankees worked with him this year on learning to wait for pitches he could drive rather than swinging at the first hittable offering, which often produced weak contact. They also worked with him this year to become less of an exclusively pull-side hitter and let the ball get deeper in the zone. He's got impressive defensive instincts for someone his age as well as an average or better arm. He rotated between shortstop and second base this year because of the presence of Hoy Park and Oswaldo Cabrera on the roster. He's a project, but he could be a defensive-minded middle infielder in the major leagues if everything comes together. He'll head to Tampa in 2018.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #19 prospect in 2016
  Castillo isn't the type of flashy shortstop who jumps out for his athleticism or tools, but his outstanding instincts and feel for the game at a premium position helped him secure a $750,000 bonus from the Yankees two years ago when they soared past their international bonus pool. Castillo is a fundamentally sound player who models his swing and setup after Derek Jeter, from his high hands to the same pre-pitch movement. He has great feel for the barrel with a short, simple stroke with good bat path. He is a high contact hitter with an inside-out approach, wearing out the opposite field. Castillo doesn't have much power and probably won't ever be more than a gap hitter. Once he learns to turn on pitches with more authority he should show more extra-base sock, with a chance for his tools to tick up once he gets stronger. Castillo should stick at shortstop, where he has a great internal clock and plays under control. He's a smart, instinctive player who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, with good hands and footwork. He's an average runner with a slightly above-average, accurate arm.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Castillo was a skilled, instinctual infielder when the Yankees signed him as part of their historic 2014 international signing class that shattered their bonus pool at the time. But Castillo moved slowly through New York’s system until his breakout season in 2021, when he hit 19 homers across two levels. The Yankees dealt Castillo and shortstop Hoy Park to Pittsburgh at the deadline for reliever Clay Holmes, and the Pirates added Castillo to their 40-man roster after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Castillo always possessed strong barrel awareness and feel for contact, but without power production. He used baseball’s shutdown in 2020 to add strength to his frame and work diligently with the Yankees’ hitting instructors to tamp down his overaggressive approach, learning which pitches to seek and destroy. The changes resulted in higher exit velocities and noticeably more damage, suggesting average power potential. Castillo also turned in a 10% walk rate, the best of his career. He’s a below-average runner, and evaluators don’t envision Castillo sticking at shortstop, but he’s fundamentally sound and has an average arm at both second and third base.
  
  The Future: Some evaluators now see Castillo as a future big league hitter without a true defensive home. He’s one of several utility types with a shot at winning the Pirates’ second base job in 2022.