Rusney Castillo is currently among the hottest hitters in the minor leagues and could prove effective alongside the rest of the streaking Boston Red Sox lineup.
When Rusney Castillo signed for $72.5 million with the Boston Red Sox in 2014, no one could have predicted that he’d still be in Triple-A nearly a year and a half later. After starting his Red Sox career with a bang in a short ten game stint at the end of 2014 that saw him hit .333 with two home runs, the Cuban looked to be on the fast track for major league success.
Just a season later, Castillo struggled throughout the season to hit consistently and subsequently saw his playing time shrink while seeing time in the minors. Castillo finished 2015 with a .253/.288/.359 slash line in 80 games, but never showed the fire he displayed in his first season or during his time in Cuba.
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Entering the 2016 season, Castillo was expected to carve out a major role as the everyday left fielder – with budding superstar Mookie Betts moving to right field and Jackie Bradley Jr. solidified as the everyday center fielder. But a shaky showing in spring training left many in the organization concerned, and the 28-year-old eventually lost his job in left field to utility-man Brock Holt.
After starting the season on the bench and just one appearance, Castillo was sent to Triple-A to regain his stroke while getting consistent at-bats.
And that’s exactly what he’s done.
Castillo is currently slashing .277/.324./.340 with 11 RBI and 12 runs scored in 24 games. Sure, his OBP could be higher, and his power has virtually fell off the face of the Earth, but Castillo is proving that he can get on base consistently and run the bases effectively.
He’s also striking out slightly less than the past, as his strikeout percentage is currently 16.7 percent, compared to an 18.7 percent mark in 2015. While his home run power hasn’t been there, Castillo currently has six doubles as compared to only 10 in 80 games last season.
Add in solid defense in left field, and Castillo is proving to be a valuable contributor. While many believe his future is that of a fourth or fifth outfielder, Castillo may be able to thrive among the potent bats in the Red Sox lineup.
This month, Castillo has been among the hottest batters in Triple-A, along with showing a matured approach at the plate.
Rusney Castillo has worked a 10-pitch walk and singled up the middle for Pawtucket. He's got a .370 OBP and a .455 SLG in the month of May.
— Brian MacPherson (@brianmacp) May 15, 2016
However, it still remains unclear if and when the Red Sox will bring Castillo back to the big league roster.
With Brock Holt struggling to hit consistently in left field, there may be no better time than now. After a solid start to the season, Holt has seen his batting average slip to .260, as he’s hitting a paltry .143 in his last seven games. While Holt’s slide could be seen as a normal lull in the duration of the season, his .240/.315/.344 slash line over the last 30 games tells a bigger story.
Right now, Holt may be best suited back in the utility role that he’s thrived in over the past two seasons, which is currently occupied by the hot-hitting Josh Rutledge.
With the Sox in the midst of a hot streak and at tied at the top of the American League East, the team can afford to see what they have in Castillo while the rest of the team carries the offense. Currently, the Sox have five starters hitting above .290, and that’s not including an increasingly hot Betts.
Putting Castillo in a semi-everyday role in left field gives the team another dynamic defense option, solid base runner and potentially strong bat. Shifting Holt back to the utility role allows the team to give every player a day off, whereas Rutledge is limited to playing second and third base.
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However, a major concern with inserting Castillo in the everyday lineup is displacing Holt’s the left-handed bat of Holt. Adding Castillo gives the Sox only three lefties in the lineup, which most likely wouldn’t be an issue with the way the Sox bats have been playing as of late. But if the team allows Holt to continue getting reps in left field, the team won’t have an issue with an overwhelmingly right-handed lineup.
While it may not seem like the best solution to put a $72.5 million dollar player in a utility role, it may be best to see what he can do at the major league level while surrounded by an offense that can carry the weight around him if he struggles. Still in his prime, Castillo’s aggressive approach at the plate can be beneficial at the bottom of the Red Sox lineup.
At the very least, promoting Castillo can give the Red Sox more stock in a potential trade down the road. With last year’s first-round draft pick Andrew Benintendi tearing up the minor leagues, it may not be long before he’s fighting for playing time with the Sox current crop of left fielders.
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Castillo may never become a great player like the Red Sox had hoped, but he can at least become a regular contributor with time in the majors this season.