Juan Castro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juan Castro |
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Castro speaking with the media
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| Naranjeros de Hermosillo | |||
| Manager | |||
| Born: June 20, 1972 Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1995, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 4, 2011, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .229 | ||
| Home runs | 36 | ||
| Runs batted in | 234 | ||
| Teams | |||
As Coach
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2023 | ||
Juan Gabriel Castro (born June 20, 1972) is a Mexican baseball coach. He used to be a professional infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for 17 years with teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies. Castro was well-known for his excellent defensive skills. He mostly played as a reserve player. He batted and threw with his right hand. After he stopped playing, Castro became a coach for the Dodgers. Later, he was an infield coach for the Phillies in 2020 and 2021.
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Playing Career Highlights
Starting with the Dodgers
Juan Castro was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991. He started his journey in the minor leagues. He played for teams like the Great Falls Voyagers and the Bakersfield Dodgers. In 1994, he was chosen for the Texas League All-Star Team while playing for the San Antonio Missions.
Castro made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 2, 1995. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Montreal Expos. He came into the game as a defensive replacement at third base. He got his first hit on October 1, 1995, in his first game as a starter.
Playing for the Dodgers was very special for Castro. He looked up to Fernando Valenzuela, another famous Mexican player who pitched for the Dodgers. Castro played for the Dodgers until the 1999 season. He mainly played shortstop, but he also helped out at second base and third base.
Time with the Cincinnati Reds
In 2000, Castro was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds from 2000 to 2004. During this time, he was mostly a utility player, meaning he could play many different positions. In 2003, he had a good year. He hit nine home runs and had 33 runs batted in (RBI) in 113 games.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins
In 2005, Castro joined the Minnesota Twins. He was signed to be a backup player for their rookie shortstop, Jason Bartlett. When Bartlett had some difficulties, Castro got to play more often. He had a batting average of .257 that season.
Return to the Cincinnati Reds
On June 15, 2006, Castro was traded back to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for them again until 2008. The Reds signed him to a new contract in September 2006. In April 2008, he was moved off the Reds' main team roster.
Short Stint with the Baltimore Orioles
In May 2008, Castro became a free agent. He then signed with the Colorado Rockies. After playing for their minor league team, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in July 2008. He immediately joined the Orioles' main team. Castro started more games at shortstop for the Orioles than any other player that year.
Back with the Dodgers (Again!)
After the 2008 season, Castro became a free agent once more. In January 2009, he signed a contract to return to his first team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent the season as a backup infielder. After the season, he became a free agent again.
Time with the Philadelphia Phillies
Castro signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in November 2009. He temporarily filled in at shortstop when Jimmy Rollins was injured. Castro was part of a very special moment in baseball history. On May 29, 2010, he caught the final out of Roy Halladay's perfect game. This is when a pitcher doesn't let any opposing player reach base during an entire game.
Final Games with the Dodgers
The Phillies released Castro in July 2010. He then rejoined the Dodgers on a minor league contract. The Dodgers called him up to the major leagues in August 2010. He played in one game before being moved off the roster again. He chose to stay home to care for a family member. He became a free agent after the season but signed again with the Dodgers for 2011. He played seven more games for them in May 2011.
Retirement from Playing
Juan Castro retired from playing baseball on July 10, 2011. Over his 17 years in the major leagues, he had a batting average of .229.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Juan Castro continued his career in baseball as a coach. He became a special assistant to the general manager for the Dodgers. He helped with player development and finding new talent.
He also coached for the Mexico national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In 2015, Castro was the Dodgers' minor league infield coordinator. In 2016, he joined the Dodgers' major league coaching staff.
After the 2017 season, he left the Dodgers. He became the director of operations for the Tijuana Toros in the Mexican League. In 2018, Castro returned to manage the Águilas de Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League. In 2019, he was announced as the manager for Team Mexico in the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament.
He joined the Philadelphia Phillies as an infield coach before the 2020 season. He left his coaching role with the Phillies in October 2021.
In January 2022, Castro was named manager of the Mexican League team Diablos Rojos del México. In his first season, he led the team to a great record and a first-place finish in their division. However, his team lost in the championship series. Castro returned in 2023 but was later replaced as manager in May 2023.
