Starlin Castro, Second Base

Date of Birth: 3/24/1990
Birthplace: Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic

Starlin Castro, second baseman, played in the minor leagues for the Chicago Cubs from 2007 through 2010, ending with a batting average of .310. He batted .300 with 139 hits and 31 doubles in 125 games in 2010, his first season with the Cubs.

Castro's best season was 2011 when he led the National League in hits with a career high of 207. That season he also had career highs in doubles with 36 and batting average with .307. Other statistics for him in 2011 include 66 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 158 games.

In 2013, Castro batted just .245 with 163 hits and 34 doubles in 161 games. He had a much better season in 2014, finishing with 154 hits, 33 doubles, 65 RBIs, and a .292 batting average in 134 games.

Castro batted .265 in 151 games with the Cubs in 2015. He finished the season with 145 hits, 23 doubles, and 69 RBIs. As a shortstop in 109 games, he made 323 assists, 58 double plays, 143 putouts, and 18 errors. In the postseason, he batted .176 with 6 hits, including a double and a home run, and 2 RBIs in 34 at-bats in 9 games.

Castro was traded to the New York Yankees on December 8, 2015. He had a good first season with the Yankees in 2016, finishing with a .270 batting average. He had 156 hits, 29 doubles, a career high 21 home runs, and 70 RBIs in 151 games. Defensively, as the Yankees second baseman in 150 games, he made 377 assists, 70 double plays, 221 putouts, and 12 errors.

Castro had a strong 2017 season, finishing with a batting average of .300 in 112 games. He had 133 hits, 18 doubles, 16 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 93 strikeouts to 23 walks. Defensively, as the Yankees' second baseman in 109 games, he made 226 assists, 46 double plays, 175 putouts, and 11 errors. In the postseason, he had 11 hits and 1 RBI in 50 at-bats in 13 games.

The Yankees traded Castro to the Miami Marlins on December 10, 2017. He finished the 2018 season with 165 hits, 32 doubles, 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .278 batting average in 154 games. Defensively, as the Marlins' second baseman in 150 games, he made 349 assists, 77 double plays, 271 putouts, and 12 errors.

Castro finished the 2019 season with 172 hits, 31 doubles, 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, 111 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a .270 batting average in 162 games. Defensively, as a second baseman in 117 games, he made 249 assists, 63 double plays, 177 putouts, and 9 errors.

Castro became a free agent on November 1, 2019. He signed with the Washington Nationals on January 7, 2020. He spent most of the shortened 2020 season on the IL, playing in just 16 games with the Nationals.

Castro was suspended for 30 games in 2021 for violating MLB's domestic violence policy. The Nationals released him on September 3rd. He finished the season with 89 hits, 20 doubles, 38 RBIs, 62 strikeouts to 26 walks, and a .283 batting average in 87 games. As a third baseman in 85 games, he made 157 assists, 52 putouts, and 12 errors.

Career batting statistics for Castro through 2021 include:

• 1,573 games played
• 1,722 hits
• 319 doubles
• 89 stolen bases
• 138 home runs
• 678 RBIs
• 1,108 strikeouts to 338 walks
• .280 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Starlin Castro
ESPN - Starlin Castro