{{short description|Dominican baseball player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Rodolfo Castro |image = Rodolfo Castro (51506268454) (cropped).jpg |image_size = 250px |caption = Castro with the Indianapolis Indians in 2021 |team = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters |number = 6 |position = Second baseman / Shortstop |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|5|21}} |birth_place = El Llano, Dominican Republic |bats = Switch |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = April 21 |debutyear = 2021 |debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates |debut2league= NPB |debut2date = March 28 |debut2year = 2026 |debut2team = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters |statleague = MLB |statyear = 2023 season |stat1label = Batting average |stat1value = .219 |stat2label = Home runs |stat2value = 22 |stat3label = Runs batted in |stat3value = 59 |stat2league = NPB |stat2year = May 19, 2026 |stat21label = Batting average |stat21value = .219 |stat22label = Home runs |stat22value = 22 |stat23label = Runs batted in |stat23value = 59 |teams = * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}}) * Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2023}}) * Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters ({{npby|2026}}–present) }} '''Rodolfo Castro''' (born May 21, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
==Career== ===Pittsburgh Pirates=== ====Minor leagues==== Castro signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent in 2015 for $150,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Pirates Top Prospects |url=https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/2020/pirates/rodolfo-castro-666801 |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Pirates, batting .271 with two home runs and 29 RBI over 56 games. In 2017, he played with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, slashing .277/.344/.479 with six home runs and 32 RBI, and in 2018, he played for the West Virginia Power, hitting .231 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI.<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Tim |date=28 May 2019 |title=Rodolfo Castro Learns To Tame His Aggression |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/rodolfo-castro-learns-to-tame-his-aggression/ |website=Baseball America}}</ref> Castro split the 2019 season with both the Greensboro Grasshoppers (with whom he was named a South Atlantic League All-Star) and the Bradenton Marauders, slashing a combined .242/.298/.456 with 19 home runs and 73 RBI.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://greensboro.com/sports/hoppers-rodolfo-castro-a-catalyst-for-northern-divisions-all-star-victory/article_174d1276-4fac-5ec4-b511-97b3ebad7977.html |title=Hoppers' Rodolfo Castro a catalyst for Northern Division's All-Star victory | Sports |publisher=greensboro.com |date=June 18, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- echo date("g:iA"); ?> --> |title=Rule 5 draft: Pirates' outlook complicated by circumstances | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=https://liber.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/11/17/Pirates-Rule-5-draft-preview-Ben-Cherington-Max-Kranick-Rodolfo-Castro-prospects/stories/202011170122 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref>
====Major leagues==== On November 20, 2020, the Pirates added Castro to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.<ref name="mlbtraderumors1">{{cite web|first=Steve |last=Adams |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/pirates-designate-trevor-williams-for-assignment.html |title=Pirates Designate Trevor Williams For Assignment |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on April 21, 2021. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting third baseman in the second game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2738135/2021/07/29/pirates-rookie-rodolfo-castro-makes-unlikely-major-league-home-run-history-the-guys-incredible/|title=Pirates rookie Rodolfo Castro makes unlikely major-league home run history: 'The guy's incredible'|first=Rob|last=Biertempfel|work=The New York Times }}</ref> He was optioned to the Altoona Curve in mid-July, but was recalled shortly after the Pirates traded Adam Frazier, with Castro being Frazier's replacement at second base.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2021/07/27/pirates-rodolfo-castro-cody-ponce-tyler-anderson-derek-shelton-adam-frazier-clay-holmes-kranick/stories/202107270148|title=Pirates recall Rodolfo Castro, Cody Ponce, start Luis Oviedo on the mound amid chaotic trade deadline|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref> On July 28, Castro hit two home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. These were both his fourth and fifth major league home runs and his fourth and fifth major league hits, making him the first major league player since at least 1901 whose first five major league hits were all home runs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Win-win for Crew as offense set to get boost|first=Adam|last=McCalvy|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/brewers-hot-hitting-leads-to-series-win-over-pirates|access-date=2021-07-29|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref> In 31 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .198/.258/.395 with 5 homers and 8 RBI.
In 2022, Castro played in 71 games for Pittsburgh, hitting .233/.299/.427 with 11 home runs and 27 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodolfo Castro - Stats - Batting |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rodolfo-castro/21987/stats?position=2B/SS |access-date=November 4, 2023 |website=FanGraphs}}</ref> He began the 2023 season with the Pirates, slashing .228/.317/.355 with 6 home runs and 22 RBI.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 2023 |title=Phillies' Rodolfo Castro: Traded to Philly |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rodolfo-castro-traded-to-philly/ |access-date=November 4, 2023 |website=CBS Sports}}</ref>
On August 9th, 2022, Castro was playing a game when he slid into third base, which would force a cellphone to slide out of his pocket. He was suspended for one game and assessed a fine for having his phone in his pocket during a game.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-16 |title=Pirates' Rodolfo Castro suspended 1 game for having cellphone in pocket during game - CBS Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pirates-castro-suspended-1-game-for-phone-flap-he-appeals/ |access-date=2025-09-11 |website=CBS News Pittsburgh |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
===Philadelphia Phillies=== On August 1, 2023, the Pirates traded Castro to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Bailey Falter.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=August 2, 2023 |title=Phillies add All-Star Lorenzen, switch-hitting Castro at Deadline |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/michael-lorenzen-traded-to-phillies |website=MLB.com}}</ref> In 14 games for the Phillies, he batted .100/.156/.100 with no home runs and two RBI. [[File:Rodolfo Castro homered.jpg|alt=Rodolfo Castro raising his arm and circling the bases after hitting a home run for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs |thumb|Castro with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in 2025]] Castro was optioned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs to begin the 2024 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wakai |first=Brad |date=19 March 2024 |title=Phillies Announce More Roster Cuts With Some Big Names Sent Home |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/phillies-announce-more-roster-cuts-with-some-big-names-sent-home-brad9 |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=On SI}}</ref> In 19 games split between Lehigh, the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, Single-A Clearwater Threshers, and rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies, he slashed a cumulative .221/.286/.351 with three home runs and nine RBI. On August 22, 2024, Castro was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies' Rodolfo Castro: Out for season|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rodolfo-castro-out-for-season/amp/|access-date=August 26, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> On November 4, Castro was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Lehigh Valley. Two days later, he elected free agency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies announce roster moves |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-phillies-announce-roster-moves-x2617 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=November 4, 2024 |access-date=November 4, 2024}}</ref>
On November 21, 2024, Castro re-signed with the Phillies on a minor league contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2025 |title=Phillies Sign Joel Kuhnel To Minor League Deal |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/phillies-sign-joel-kuhnel-to-minor-league-deal.html |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> He made 133 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025, batting .235/.324/.421 with 19 home runs, 82 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Castro elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2025|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2025/|access-date=November 28, 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}</ref>
=== Toronto Blue Jays === On November 25, 2025, Castro signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=November 25, 2025 |title=Blue Jays, Rodolfo Castro Agree To Minor League Deal |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/11/blue-jays-sign-rodolfo-castro.html |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> He was released by the Blue Jays organization on January 9, 2026.<ref>{{cite web | title=Transactions | website=MiLB.com | date=2026-01-09 | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2026-01-09 | access-date=2026-01-25}}</ref>
===Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters=== On January 13, 2026, Castro signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=January 13, 2026 |title=Rodolfo Castro To Sign With NPB’s Nippon-Ham Fighters |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/rodolfo-castro-to-sign-with-npbs-nippon-ham-fighters.html |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{baseballstats|mlb=666801|espn=41532|br=c/castrro01|fangraphs=21987|brm=castro001rod|retro=C/Pcastr006}}
{{Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castro, Rodolfo}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Bradenton Marauders players Category:Clearwater Threshers players Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Puerto Rico Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Dominican Summer League Pirates players Category:Florida Complex League Phillies players Category:Gigantes de Carolina (baseball) players Category:Greensboro Grasshoppers players Category:Gulf Coast Pirates players Category:Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Jersey Shore BlueClaws players Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Category:Major League Baseball infielders Category:Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic Category:Nippon Professional Baseball infielders Category:21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen Category:People from Elías Piña Province Category:Philadelphia Phillies players Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:West Virginia Power players Category:Estrellas Orientales players Category:Toros del Este players