Vinny Castilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vinny Castilla |
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Castilla with the San Diego Padres in 2006
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| Third baseman | |||
| Born: July 4, 1967 Oaxaca, Mexico |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1991, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2006, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Home runs | 320 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,105 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2020 | ||
Vinicio "Vinny" Castilla Soria (born July 4, 1967) is a former Mexican Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was a great third baseman, especially known for his time with the Colorado Rockies. Vinny also played for several other teams during his career. Today, he works as a special assistant for the Rockies' General Manager, Bill Schmidt.
Contents
- Vinny Castilla's Baseball Journey (1991–2006)
- After Playing Baseball
- See also
Vinny Castilla's Baseball Journey (1991–2006)
Starting with the Atlanta Braves (1991–1992)
The Atlanta Braves first signed Vinny Castilla in 1990 from a Mexican league team. He made his big league debut as a shortstop for the Braves on September 9, 1991. He played only a few games in his first two seasons with the team.
Becoming a Star with the Colorado Rockies (1993–1999)
In 1992, the Colorado Rockies picked Castilla in a special draft for new teams. He started playing regularly in 1993, hitting 9 home runs and 30 RBIs. In 1994, he played less but still hit very well, with a .311 batting average.
Breakthrough Season in 1995
In 1995, Vinny became the main third baseman for the Rockies. This was a big turning point for him. He was so good that he was chosen for the All-Star team. He finished the season with a .309 batting average, 32 Home runs, and 90 RBIs. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award, which is given to the best offensive players at each position.
Some people thought his great numbers were just because the Rockies' home stadium in Denver is at a high altitude, which makes the ball fly farther. But Vinny kept proving them wrong!
Continued Success (1996–1998)
In 1996, Vinny had an even better year. He played in almost every game, hitting 40 home runs and 113 RBIs. He also led all third basemen in the National League in making double plays.
He repeated his amazing performance in 1997, hitting 40 home runs and 113 RBIs again. He earned his second Silver Slugger Award.
His best season was in 1998. He hit the first-ever home run at the new stadium for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was chosen for the All-Star Game again and even participated in the Home Run Derby in front of his home fans in Colorado. That year, he played in all 162 games, hitting 46 home runs and driving in 144 runs. These were his career bests!
Historic Game in Mexico (1999)
On April 4, 1999, Vinny Castilla was part of a special moment. The Rockies played their opening day game in his home country of Mexico, in Monterrey. This was the first time an MLB regular season game started outside of the United States or Canada. Vinny made the crowd happy by getting four hits in the game.
He also briefly changed his jersey number to 14 to honor his former teammate, Andrés Galarraga, who was battling cancer.
Vinny continued to hit well in 1999, with 33 home runs and 102 RBIs. This was his fourth year in a row with over 100 RBIs.
Playing for Other Teams (2000–2003)
Before the 2000 season, Castilla was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He didn't play as much there. In 2001, he was traded to the Houston Astros. With the Astros, he started hitting home runs again, with 23 in 122 games. He even helped the Astros reach the playoffs.
He then returned to the Atlanta Braves for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. While his hitting numbers were lower, he was an excellent defender at third base. He also played well in the playoffs for the Braves.
Back to the Colorado Rockies (2004)
In 2004, Vinny Castilla came back to the Colorado Rockies for a second time. He had an incredible year! He hit 35 home runs and led the entire league with 131 RBIs. He also played fantastic defense, making only six errors all year. Even with such a great season, he didn't win any awards that year.
Final Seasons (2005–2006)
Castilla played for the Washington Nationals in 2005, hitting 12 home runs. In 2006, he played for the San Diego Padres before returning to the Rockies one last time to finish his career. His last home run with the Rockies was on September 9, 2006.
A Look Back at Vinny's Career
Vinny Castilla was a fan favorite in Colorado. He was the last player from the original 1993 Colorado Rockies team to retire. He is the all-time home run leader among players born in Mexico, with 320 home runs. He won three Silver Slugger Awards and was an All-Star twice. He hit 30 or more home runs six times, including three seasons with over 40 home runs! He also drove in over 100 runs five times. In playoff games, he had a great batting average of .350.
After Playing Baseball
Vinny Castilla officially retired from playing baseball on February 7, 2007. He then became a special assistant to the Rockies' General Manager, Dan O'Dowd.
He also managed the Mexican baseball team in the Pan American Games in 2007 and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In 2008, he was a player-manager for a team in the Mexican Pacific League.
Vinny Castilla and his wife, Samantha, have three sons: Vinicio Jr., Daulton, and Cristian.
In 2020, Vinny Castilla was honored by being inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Vinicio Castilla para niños
- List of Colorado Rockies team records
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Silver Slugger Award winners at third base
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
