Simon Castro
From BR Bullpen
Simon Castro Alfonseca
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 5", Weight 211 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Simon Castro reached AAA in 2010.
Castro was signed by scout Felix Francisco and international scouting director Randy Smith for the San Diego Padres at age 17. He made his pro debut with the 2006 DSL Padres, going 1-3 with a 4.63 ERA but striking out 58 in 46 2/3 innings. In 2007, he was just 2-6 with a 6.22 ERA for the AZL Padres, with a WHIP of 1.80 though he did strike out 55 in 50 2/3 innings. He led the Arizona League in runs allowed (48) and hit batsmen (9).
At age 20 in 2008, the big Dominican hurler was 2-3 with a 3.99 ERA for the Eugene Emeralds. He led the Northwest League with 14 hit batsmen. Baseball America rated him as the league's #14 prospect, just ahead of Tyson Gillies.
In 2009, the right-hander improved to 10-6, 3.33 for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. He led the Midwest League with 157 strikeouts and 10.17 strikeouts per 9 innings. He was 5th in ERA, right behind Brad Tippett. He was named the Padres' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Castro began 2010 with the San Antonio Missions and was 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA after 15 games, earning him a spot on the World team for the 2010 Futures Game. Getting the start for the World, he would take the loss in a 9-1 defeat. He began by plunking Desmond Jennings, then walking Dee Gordon. A wild pitch put two men in scoring position. Mike Moustakas was retired, but Domonic Brown singled home Jennings and Eric Hosmer singled in Gordon. Hank Conger lined out, but another wild pitch put runners in scoring position once again. Castro got Brett Jackson swinging on a slider to escape further damage, but the USA already had gotten enough runs. Hector Noesi replaced Castro in the second. Castro finished the 2010 season with a record of 7-6, 2.92 for San Antonio, then pitched a couple of games in the Pacific Coast League with the Portland Beavers, picking up a loss. He made the Texas League All-Star team, joining Douglas Arguello, Blake Beavan, Jeremy Hefner, David Kopp, Jordan Lyles and Ryan Tatusko as the chosen hurlers.
In 2011, Simon started the season with the Tucson Padres, who had succeeded Portland as the Padres' AAA affiliate. Things did not go well in the hitter-friendly environment. In 6 starts, he was 2-2, but with an ERA of 10.12 and 18 walks in 25 2/3 innings. He returned to San Antonio to find his groove again, and pitched better, although nowhere near as well as the previous season. He made 16 starts for the Missions, with a record of 5-6 and a 4.33 ERA. between the two teams, he pitched 115 innings, giving up 132 hits, but with a good K/W ratio of 94 to 34, belying his combined 5.63 ERA. The Chicago White Sox evidently were not worried about the off-year, because he was one of two young pitchers they acquired in return for All-Star OF Carlos Quentin on December 31st, along with Pedro Hernandez, a fellow starter who had been a teammate at San Antonio in 2011.
[edit] Sources
- 2010 Padres Media Guide
- 2008-2011 Baseball Almanacs
