Boston Red Sox bust Rusney Castillo resurfaces with Washington Nationals

The Boston Red Sox were hoping to have the next Cuban star with they signed Rusney Castillo. He was handed a six year contract worth $72.5 million, only to appear in a grand total of 99 major league games before being banished to Triple-A, never to appear again.

After spending the 2021 season in Japan, Castillo is back. He has signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals and will presumably get a chance to earn his way onto the major league roster.

Boston Red Sox bust Rusney Castillo gets another chance with Washington Nationals

Suffice to say, Castillo’s brief time in the majors was a disappointment. He produced a meager .262/.301/.379 batting line in his 337 plate appearances, hitting just seven homers and 12 doubles. While he performed well at Triple-A, posting a .293/.335/.425 batting line with 42 homers and 105 doubles, but he never returned to the majors after 2016.

His stint in Japan was a disappointment as well. Given a chance to resurrect his career, Castillo produced a .225/.276/.282 batting line in 76 plate appearances with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, hitting one homer and one double. While he was better during his time in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, with 17 hits in 60 plate appearances, every one of those hits was a single.

But talent and former top prospects will get a chance. The Nationals do need outfield help and Castillo is hypothetically still in his prime. If nothing else, he is a low cost lottery ticket and someone that could be stashed in Triple-A in case he is needed.

This could also be his last chance stateside. His disappointing showing in Japan, coupled with a sudden lack of anything resembling power, has to be a concern. If he struggles in spring training, his time in affiliated ball could be over for good.

The Washington Nationals are taking a chance on Rusney Castillo. The former Boston Red Sox bust is getting another opportunity.