TigsTown Scouting Report #6: SS Willi Castro

Could Castro be the Tigers shortstop of the future?

Willi Castro

Willi Castro (Photo Credit: Paul Wezner/TigsTown.com)

Vitals

Position: Shortstop

Date of Birth: 4/24/1997 (Opening Day 2020: 22)

Height/Weight: 6’1”/205 lbs

Bats/Throws: Both/Right

Acquired: International Free Agent (Cleveland Indians), July 2013; Trade for Leonys Martin (OF), July 2018

Scouting Report

The Good: Castro’s profile is more the sum of the parts than it is flashy. He is an average runner with solid instincts on the bases. His speed also works at shortstop with acceptable range for the position. Combined with decent hands and an average arm, his overall defensive profile grades average with the potential to play multiple positions at the big league level. Offensively, he has a knack for getting the bat on the ball from both sides of the plate and he will show average raw power in batting practice, mostly from the left side. He’s a heady player that can maximize his broad set of tools.

The Bad: Castro had a rough debut in Detroit, including many unforced errors in the field that are uncharacteristic of his defensive ability. He can get “lazy” at times on easy plays, leading to silly mistakes, but that should be something he outgrows with experience. His raw power is average, but plays down due to his contact-first approach and will likely manifest as merely below-average or gap power once he settles in.

Risk: Castro is a relatively “safe” prospect with a high-ish floor and modest ceiling. He needs to polish his game against stiffer competition, but there’s little room for the profile to fall apart – or significantly exceed expectations – making him a reasonably safe bet to contribute in Detroit.

Projection: Castro lacks a carrying tool and must find a way for everything to play near maximum projection to have a big league future. If he can find his groove in the big leagues, he could be a solid contributor, though he may be better suited for a utility role than an everyday job at shortstop. He’ll get occasional chances in Detroit in 2020 with a shot at a more prominent roster spot in 2021.

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