Anybody Thinking About Starlin Castro?

by davidsabin on Aug 16, 2009 11:36 PM EDT Comment 8 comments

I just came across this guy thanks to a list preparred by Project Prospect of youngest A+ guys. Then I found he has been in AA for about 2 weeks already. The guy is 19, held his own in a tough pitcher's league (FSL), and has a few hits and no k's in AA so far. He is dominican, so maybe he's 21, sh_t who knows. Anyways, his bio says he is 6' to 6'1" (i.e. 5'11"). As a SS for the Cubs, with no insurmountable road blocks at the position, I am wondering who has seen him and what do you guys think.

John had him down as a sleeper with a C+ score.

The cubs sure seem to be fast tracking him.

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needs experience

Good tools, solid performance. Such a low number of Ks given his age and competition is pretty impressive, but I’m not sure I like pushing him this hard considering that he needs time to refine both his offensive and defensive game.

Certainly a breakout year for him.

by mrkupe on Aug 16, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think about him all the time

by gorilla_baller on Aug 17, 2009 12:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Looking at his numbers from A+

He had a good average (.301) with a pretty normal BABIP (.333), but he had a suprisingly low OBP (.336) and little power (.390 SLG). 41 K’s in 359 AB’s isn’t bad at all, but the 17 BB’s worry me a little. Of course, this all SSS, so maybe I’m just making mountains out of molehills, but this seems like something to watch out for as he moves up the ladder.

Anyway, can anyone think of a good comp for him?

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

Good ol' KO

by thecoolest on Aug 17, 2009 1:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

High average, low K rate, low walk rate, low power shortstop

Sounds like Orlando Cabrera to me.

Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving

by PaulThomas on Aug 17, 2009 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sometimes

i’ll just be sitting there staring at the wall and then i realize i was thinking about him for the last 10 minutes or so.

by son.of.sourman on Aug 17, 2009 1:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cub fans are all very excited

The move to Tennessee was surprising, but

a) He did perform well in Daytona, enough to consider it

b) His current flaws weren’t really going to be really impacted by the move (his lack of power and defensive consistency – the former needs time, if he develops any, and the latter, well, he was probably helped by leaving Daytona, if anything).

c) Tennessee has a shot at the playoffs, while Daytona was out of it.

The Cubs moved up Robinson Chirinos as well, a guy who was supposedly his mentor. Chirinos had been in the Cubs system a long time, starting as a MI, but moving to C the last couple seasons. He’s actually been fairly solid and probably deserved a call up more than Mark Reed did earlier in the year, but he was better off mentoring the youngsters at Daytona.

Most expectations are that Castro will get bigger. I believe Daytona’s manager (I should know this, but it’s slipping my mind right now) said he could add around 20-25 pounds without damaging his athleticism. Only time will tell, and certainly, another factor to ponder over is how a guy adjusts to physical maturation, which goes beyond getting bigger. Overall, while the errors were disconcerting, I’m not concerned about them … yet. I know a lot of folks are, but there were some indications that it was a measure of consistency, and not ability, which is a good thing. I know KG and others have suggested he may have to move to 2nd, which is possible, but for now, not too concerned (he may move to 2nd if Hak-ju Lee develops). If he has these problems in Tennessee next year, then yes, I’d be concerned. He should be able to hit for average with that swing, and the offensive question becomes if he can gain some power as he grows.

Personally, I think he’s a top 100 guy right now in the entire minors, and personally, I think he’s a solid B player.

by toonsterwu on Aug 17, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs