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The Twins have signed reliever Diego Castillo to a minor league contract. The previous Rays and Mariners setup man was introduced as a part of the Opening Day roster for his or her Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul.
From 2018-22, the now-30-year-old Castillo was wonderful out of the bullpens in Tampa Bay and Seattle, pitching to a mixed 3.12 earned run common (3.69 FIP, 3.38 SIERA) with a powerful 28.1% strikeout charge and an 8.9% stroll charge that’s barely north of the league common. He saved the ball on the bottom at a formidable 50.7% clip as nicely, and Castillo yielded simply 1.07 lengthy balls per 9 frames.
Castillo has battled shoulder hassle all through his profession, nevertheless — three completely different IL stints — and that appears to have taken some toll on the righty. Early in his profession, he averaged 98.8 mph on his four-seamer and 98.2 mph on his sinker. These velocities have been all the way down to 94 mph with the Mariners in 2023. Castillo was rocked for six runs in his first 8 2/3 innings final season, strolling an uncharacteristic seven of 41 hitters (17.1%) and plunking one other throughout that point.
The Mariners handed Castillo and his $2.95MM wage by waivers unclaimed final Might, certainly hoping that he’d return to type in Triple-A Tacoma and assist the membership later within the season. Nonetheless, his time in Tacoma didn’t go a lot better. In 47 1/3 frames, he posted a dreary 5.13 ERA with a good 22.1% strikeout charge but additionally an alarming 15.5% stroll charge. The Mariners by no means introduced him again to the large leagues, and Castillo elected free company at season’s finish.
The Rangers signed Castillo to a minor league pact over the winter however weren’t capable of get him straightened out in spring coaching. Command was as soon as once more a outstanding problem. He walked six of 39 opponents with Texas (15.4%), plunked one other and tossed a wild pitch.
Regardless of the sharp decline because the finish of the 2022 season, Castillo has a powerful general observe document within the massive leagues. Minnesota, in the meantime, opened the season with nearer Jhoan Duran (indirect pressure) and relievers Caleb Thielbar (hamstring pressure), Justin Topa (patellar tendinitis) and Josh Staumont (calf pressure) on the injured record. It’s not a shock to see them add a veteran arm with some massive league success below his belt, however Castillo is clearly a mission for them at this level.
If the Twins are capable of get him again on observe, Castillo’s 4.150 years of huge league service time imply he will be managed by way of arbitration by the 2025 season.
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