Starlin Castro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Starlin Castro |
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Castro with the Washington Nationals in 2021
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| Free agent | |||
| Infielder | |||
| Born: March 24, 1990 Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| May 7, 2010, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2021 season) |
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| Batting average | .280 | ||
| Hits | 1,722 | ||
| Home runs | 138 | ||
| Runs batted in | 678 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
Starlin DeJesus Castro (born March 24, 1990) is a professional baseball infielder from the Dominican Republic. He is currently a free agent, meaning he is not signed with any team. Starlin has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several well-known teams. These include the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals.
Starlin Castro is a four-time MLB All-Star. This means he was chosen as one of the best players in the league multiple times. He also holds a special record for the most runs batted in (RBIs) during his very first MLB game. In 2011, he led the National League in hits, making him the youngest player ever to achieve this impressive feat.
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Starlin Castro's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Before reaching the major leagues, Starlin Castro played in the minor leagues. In 2009, he was selected for the Florida State League All-Star team. He even won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for that game. During the game, he had a fantastic performance, getting four hits out of four tries, including an inside-the-park home run. He was also chosen for the All-Star Futures Game as part of the World Team. After this successful season, Baseball America magazine named Castro the top young player in the Chicago Cubs' organization.
Playing for the Chicago Cubs
Making His MLB Debut in 2010
Starlin Castro was called up to the major leagues on May 7, 2010. He joined the Chicago Cubs from their Double-A team, the Tennessee Smokies. He made history by becoming the first MLB player born in the 1990s.
In his very first time at bat in a major league game, he hit a three-run home run. This happened against Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds. He was only the sixth player in Cubs history to hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat. Later in the same game, he hit a triple with the bases loaded. This set a new record for the most runs batted in (RBIs) in a major league debut, with six RBIs. He ended that exciting game with two hits out of five attempts, helping the Cubs win 14–7.
Castro finished his first season with a batting average of .300. He hit three home runs and had 41 RBIs in 125 games. After the season, Baseball America named him the shortstop on their 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also chosen for the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team. He finished tied for fifth place in the voting for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award.
Becoming an All-Star in 2011
The 2011 season was Starlin Castro's first full year in MLB. It was also the year he was first chosen for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He was one of three shortstops picked for the National League All-Star team. Castro was the youngest player from the Chicago Cubs ever to be selected for an All-Star team. In the All-Star Game, he stole two bases, even though he only had one chance to bat. This tied the record for the most stolen bases in a single All-Star Game.
On September 23, 2011, Castro got his 200th hit of the season. This happened at Busch Stadium against the rival St. Louis Cardinals. He was the youngest Cubs player to reach 200 hits in a season.
Castro became the youngest player ever to lead the National League in hits. He achieved this with his 207th hit of the season on September 28, 2011. His game jersey from this achievement was sent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. For the 2011 season, he had a batting average of .307 and hit 10 home runs. He finished the season with 207 hits and 674 times at bat, both leading the National League.
Another All-Star Season in 2012
Starlin Castro was again selected for the National League 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2012. He played in all 162 games of the season. He finished with a .283 batting average, 14 home runs, and 78 RBIs. He also led the National League with 646 times at bat. In August, Castro and the Cubs agreed to a contract extension. This deal kept him with the team through the 2019 season, with an option for 2020.
A Challenging Year in 2013
The 2013 season was a bit tougher for Castro. His batting average dropped to .245, which was a career low for him at the time. He still hit 10 home runs and played in 161 games.
Third All-Star Selection in 2014
After a difficult 2013, Castro was chosen for his third 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in 2014. Unfortunately, his All-Star year ended early. He got injured on September 2 while sliding into home plate during a game. He did not play again that year. He finished the season with a strong batting average of .292, 14 home runs, and 65 RBIs. He was the top-hitting shortstop in the National League based on batting average.
Switching Positions in 2015
During a game on April 20, 2015, a foul ball hit by Castro accidentally struck a fan. The game was paused while the fan received medical attention.
Later in the season, there was talk that Castro might be traded to another team. However, his manager, Joe Maddon, told him he would not be traded. In August, Castro was benched for a short time because his performance was not as strong. Rookie Addison Russell took over as the everyday shortstop. On August 12, Castro made a change and started playing second base instead. On September 18, he had a great game against the Cardinals, hitting two home runs and matching his career high with six RBIs.
Joining the New York Yankees
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On December 8, 2015, Starlin Castro was traded to the New York Yankees. On April 6, 2016, Castro had 5 RBIs in a game, setting a new Yankees record for the most RBIs in a player's first two games with the team. On April 9, he reached a big milestone by getting his 1000th career hit. On June 22, Castro hit his first ever walk-off home run, which means his home run won the game in the final inning. He finished the season with a .270 batting average and a career high of 21 home runs and 70 RBIs.
In 2017, Castro hit a game-tying two-run home run in the 9th inning of a comeback win against the Baltimore Orioles. He dealt with a hamstring injury that season, which caused him to miss some games. Castro finished 2017 with a .300 batting average, 16 home runs, and 63 RBIs in 112 games.
Playing for the Miami Marlins
On December 11, 2017, Castro was traded to the Miami Marlins. He finished his first season with the Marlins with a .278 batting average, 12 home runs, and 54 RBIs.
In 2019, Castro started the season at second base. In August, he moved to play third base when a new player joined the team. His performance improved later in the season. He finished 2019 with a .270 batting average and set new career highs with 22 home runs and 86 RBIs. He was one of only five MLB players that year to play in all 162 games. On October 31, 2019, the Marlins decided not to keep him for the next season, making him a free agent.
Time with the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals signed Starlin Castro to a two-year contract on January 7, 2020. He made his Nationals debut on Opening Day, July 23, 2020, as the starting second baseman. In an August 14 game, Castro suffered a broken wrist while trying to make a play. He had surgery and missed the rest of the year. For that season, Castro had a .267 batting average with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.
On June 15, 2021, Castro was placed on a special list by the team to deal with a family matter. He was released by the Nationals on September 2, 2021.
Playing in Mexico and Independent Leagues
On June 27, 2022, Castro signed with the Leones de Yucatán in the Mexican League. He played 28 games there, batting .240 with 1 home run and 9 RBIs. Castro left the team on August 14 for personal reasons.
On April 24, 2023, Castro signed with the Spire City Ghost Hounds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. This team was new and didn't have a name yet when he joined. In 43 games for the Ghost Hounds, he batted .305 with one home run and 24 RBIs. The Ghost Hounds announced they would not play in the 2024 season. Castro became a free agent again on November 2, 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Starlin Castro para niños
- List of players with a home run in first major league at-bat
