Juan Castro
Encyclopedia
Juan Gabriel Castro is a former Mexican
professional baseball
infielder
. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Cincinnati Reds
, Minnesota Twins
, Baltimore Orioles
, and Philadelphia Phillies
, during his career. Castro batted and threw right-handed.
by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 1991 and began his trek through the minor leagues with the Great Falls Dodgers in 1991. He followed that up with time spent with the Bakersfield Dodgers, San Antonio Missions
and Albuquerque Dukes
. He was selected to the Texas League
All-Star Team while with San Antonio in 1994.
Castro made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
on September 2, against the Montreal Expos
as a defensive replacement at third base
. He got his first at bat on September 11 and recorded his first career hit in his first career start, on the final day of the season, October 1, against the San Diego Padres
.
Playing for the Dodgers was especially meaningful for Castro, as he idolized fellow Mexican
and former Dodgers pitching ace Fernando Valenzuela
as a child.
Castro played for the Dodgers through the season. His primary position was shortstop
, but he also backed up at second base and third base
.
for Kenny Lutz on April 1, 2000, just before the start of the season.
He played with the Reds from 2000–04, mostly as a utility player
.
as a backup to rookie shortstop Jason Bartlett. Bartlett struggled and Castro saw increased playing time.
for minor league outfielder
Brandon Roberts. On April 21, , he was designated for assignment
by the Reds.
. After spending some time playing for the Colorado Rockies
' Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
on July 19, and was immediately added to the major league roster. Castro started more games at shortstop
than any other player in 2008 for the Orioles.
. He spent the season as a backup infielder and then filed for free agency again.
on November 24. Castro temporarily replaced Jimmy Rollins
at shortstop after Rollins suffered a right calf injury.
.
On May 13, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Dodgers. After appearing in seven games, during which he was 4 for 14, he was again designated for assignment on June 6.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, during his career. Castro batted and threw right-handed.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Castro was signed as an undrafted free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1991 and began his trek through the minor leagues with the Great Falls Dodgers in 1991. He followed that up with time spent with the Bakersfield Dodgers, San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
and Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
. He was selected to the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star Team while with San Antonio in 1994.
Castro made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on September 2, against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
as a defensive replacement at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
. He got his first at bat on September 11 and recorded his first career hit in his first career start, on the final day of the season, October 1, against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
Playing for the Dodgers was especially meaningful for Castro, as he idolized fellow Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and former Dodgers pitching ace Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
as a child.
Castro played for the Dodgers through the season. His primary position was shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, but he also backed up at second base and third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
.
Cincinnati Reds
After seeing very little playing time during the 1999 season, Castro was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Kenny Lutz on April 1, 2000, just before the start of the season.
He played with the Reds from 2000–04, mostly as a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
.
Minnesota Twins
In , Castro was signed by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as a backup to rookie shortstop Jason Bartlett. Bartlett struggled and Castro saw increased playing time.
Cincinnati Reds (2nd stint)
On June 15, , Castro was traded back to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for minor league outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Brandon Roberts. On April 21, , he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Reds.
Baltimore Orioles
On May 2, , he became a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. After spending some time playing for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
' Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
on July 19, and was immediately added to the major league roster. Castro started more games at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
than any other player in 2008 for the Orioles.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2nd stint)
He became a free agent at the end of the season and on January 4, , he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with his original team, the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He spent the season as a backup infielder and then filed for free agency again.
Philadelphia Phillies
Castro agreed to a one year deal with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on November 24. Castro temporarily replaced Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
at shortstop after Rollins suffered a right calf injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers (3rd stint)
Castro was released by the Phillies on July 17, 2010, and returned to the Dodgers on a minor-league contract on July 27, 2010. The Dodgers called him up to the Majors on August 11, 2010. He appeared in one game and was designated for assignment on August 21. The Dodgers had intended to recall him when rosters expanded in September, but he chose to remain home to attend to an ailing family member. He became a free agent after the season but re-signed with the Dodgers on a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque IsotopesAlbuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
On May 13, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Dodgers. After appearing in seven games, during which he was 4 for 14, he was again designated for assignment on June 6.