Pirates rookie infielder Rodolfo Castro tries not to brag after hitting 1st career home run

Before he answered reporters’ questions late Friday night, Rodolfo Castro wanted to make himself clear.

“I hope this comes off the right way,” he said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez.

Then, trying not to sound boastful, the 22-year-old Dominican infielder said what was on his mind after his first major-league hit turned out to be a home run in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 13-4 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field.

“I’m just so proud of myself, just being persistent with my dream and continuing to battle for the dream I wanted to accomplish,” he said.

”Right now, I’m just feeling overwhelmed with so much gratitude, just grateful God provided me this opportunity. There’s this overwhelming internal joy inside of me that my first hit in the big leagues was a home run.”

Career homer No. 1 for @Pirates rookie Rodolfo Castro. pic.twitter.com/h3FzIzXk75

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 10, 2021

Castro has played second base, shortstop and third base in the minor leagues since the Pirates signed him in 2015 as a 16-year-old international free agent. He was called up from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday to help ease the Pirates’ manpower shortage with five position players on the injured list.

He was with the Pirates on April 21 in Detroit, coming to the plate three times without a hit. He also drew a pinch-hit walk Tuesday at PNC Park against the Atlanta Braves and batted once Wednesday in another blowout loss, 14-3.

Manager Derek Shelton inserted Castro in the seventh inning to get regular second baseman Adam Frazier off his feet before Saturday’s doubleheader. Castro hit the second pitch from the Mets’ Nick Tropeano 403 feet into the right-field seats. It was an 89 mph sinker, and it left his bat at 102.7 mph.

Castro said he “most definitely” had dreamed of his first hit leaving the park.

“You always dream about reaching the big leagues, but then you have that extra dream where you imagine your first hit being a home run,” he said.

Although the homer merely trimmed a 12-2 deficit by one run, Castro received a hero’s welcome in the Pirates dugout. Later, he said, “I feel like a child inside.”

Castro was hitting .306 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in Altoona this season after recording 19 homers and 73 RBIs for Single-A Bradenton and Greensboro in 2019.

“This kid just continues to get better,” Shelton said.

Although he’s blending power with average against Double-A pitching, Castro said he tries not to do too much at the plate.

“My mindset is different this year,” he said. “When I go up to the plate, I’m not trying to overswing at pitches. I want to hit the ball with the barrel of the bat. I want to be able to square up the ball well. If it goes out of the park, awesome. If it doesn’t, I just want to make sure that I feel that I hit the ball well.”

After hitting .365 in June, he said he felt no pressure making the jump to the majors before his first Triple-A at-bat.

“I told myself, ‘Just imagine this is Altoona. Enjoy every bit of it. Be you. Enjoy the game.’ ”

There’s no telling how long Castro will remain with the Pirates or what the team plans for him after the All-Star break.

But with so many injuries to veteran players and the trading deadline looming, there promises to be plenty of opportunities for young Pirates minor-leaguers — now and in the future.