Pirates A to Z: After historic start, Rodolfo Castro looks to show staying power in majors

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Rodolfo Castro

Positions: Second base, third base

Throws: Right

Bats: Both

Age: 22

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 205 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Castro batted .198/.258/.395 with two doubles, five home runs and eight RBIs in 31 games.

Contract: Rookie.

Acquired: Signed as international free agent in 2015.

This past season: Castro finished the season the same place he started it, playing for the Altoona Curve.

What he did in-between was historic.

Castro made the jump from Double-A to the majors, debuting April 21 at Detroit after Ke’Bryan Hayes suffered a setback in his hand injury. The only one who didn’t appear surprised by his skipping Triple-A was Castro, who hadn’t previously played above Class A.

“To be honest with you — and I mean this in the most humblest way — I wasn’t surprised,” Castro said. “I had made this a goal that no matter if I started in Double-A or Triple-A, my goal was to finish (in the majors) this year, I’ve worked very hard. I’ve been very diligent in my preparation. I’ve been very diligent with my work ethic, I’ve done so much to try to get up here so I can’t really tell you that I’m surprised, because I know I’ve put in a lot of work and I’ve tried to do everything right. … I’m really looking forward to whatever’s next.”

It was only a one-game stay for Castro, and no one could have predicted what came next. Castro was called up again in July, and became the first player in MLB history whose first five hits were all home runs.

His first career homer came against the New York Mets on July 9. Two days later, he homered twice to rally the Pirates to a 6-5 comeback win. Castro had another two-homer game against Milwaukee on July 28, passing Trevor Story to put his name in the record books.

Rodolfo Castro is the first player in the modern era to have his first 5 career hits all be HR. pic.twitter.com/rlUyjnXrcX

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 29, 2021

“All I can say is the first thing that crosses my mind is just all the work, all the effort, all the sacrifices. You capture moments like this, and it gives you a different perspective of how worth it and how valuable those sacrifices and that work and all that preparation (was),” Castro said. “The fruits and the labor it provides to you in return. I’m feeling amazing right now. It’s an amazing feeling. The mindset is let’s keep it coming. Let’s continue forward.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton was both dumbstruck and impressed by the switch-hitting Castro’s feat, especially that he hit three left-handed and two from the right side of the plate.

“In a year of firsts, I’ve definitely never seen five hits, five homers,” Shelton said. “I don’t really think it’s sustainable, but if he wants to try, he can try.”

Castro didn’t hit another homer the rest of the major league season, batting .185 (12 for 70) with a pair of two-hit performances in his final 22 games before being sent back to Altoona.

That Castro found success in the majors but was returned to Double-A was befuddling, but Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said the reasoning behind the decision was because the club believed Castro could help the Curve’s playoff hopes.

“A couple reasons: One was that we wanted him to play some shortstop. As we looked at it at the time we sent him down, it might be easier to do that as things were playing out if that was in Altoona first,” Cherington said. “Then there was a little bit feeling like he had started the year with that team and we thought had a really good connection in that clubhouse, meant a lot to that team and had become a leader on that team.”

Castro was promoted to Indianapolis on Sept. 20, and was named Triple-A East player of the week after batting .471 (8 for 17) with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs.

The future: The Pirates believe Castro’s confidence is contagious and like the personality he brings to the club but also believe he needs more seasoning after making such a big jump.

The Pirates like his power potential when he does make contact but would like to see Castro reduce his strikeouts after whiffing 27 times while drawing six walks in 93 plate appearances in the majors.

“When I go up to the box, I only have one mindset, and that’s to get a good pitch and square it up right in the barrel,” Castro said. “I’ve always been a guy that swings hard and I want to hit every pitch and every ball that I can get as hard as I can. If I get a good pitch and I square it up in the barrel, I’m going to hit it as hard as I can, and it’s going to go out. That’s truly my mindset. I don’t go up there with a mentality to hit home runs. I just go up there with a mentality to hit the ball hard and square it up with the barrel.”

Don’t be surprised if Castro starts the 2022 season at Indianapolis, in an effort to get him playing time at shortstop — if Oneil Cruz makes the Opening Day roster. The Pirates value versatility, and Castro’s ability to play second base, shortstop and third base could give him an edge on making it to the majors as a utility infielder.

“We haven’t even seen Castro play shortstop often yet, and he can play shortstop,” Pirates farm director John Baker said. “What he did to start his career with the homers in New York, incredible. Huge win for Hector Morales Negron and our international development team to see that. … To see what he did in the big leagues was amazing to us.”