Rodolfo Castro, 26, signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays with a Spring Training invite. He was a former switch-hitter who hit exclusively right-handed in 2025. In Triple-A with the Phillies' organization he slashed .235/.324/.421 with 19 home runs for a 97 wRC+. He debuted in MLB with the Pirates in 2021 and had his best big-league season in 2022, hitting .233/.299/.427 with 11 homers for a 100 wRC+. He struggled in 2023, missed most of 2024 due to shoulder and thumb injuries, then played 133 Triple-A games in 2025. He is unlikely to start the season on Toronto's roster but provides low-cost depth.
"Castro, 26, is a former switch-hitter who solely hit from the right side in 2025. Last season with the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A team, the infielder slashed .235/.324/.421 with 19 home runs in 525 plate appearances for a 97 wRC+ He's had big league experience in the past. He made his debut in 2021 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he hit five home runs in 93 plate appearances for a 73 wRC+."
"Castro's most recent season in the big leagues came in 2023 with the Pirates and Phillies, where he slashed .211/.297/.322 with six home runs in 256 plate appearances for a 69 wRC+ and career-worst -0.7 fWAR. The 26-year-old appeared in only 23 games in 2024, as it was an injury-filled season due to shoulder and thumb injuries. It seems the injury issues are behind him, as Castro played in 133 games in Triple-A last season."
"As for his fit, it's unlikely that Castro starts the season on the Blue Jays' roster, as they have a ton of infield depth, even if Bo Bichette signs elsewhere. That said, having MLB-calibre depth in the minor leagues is never a bad thing, nor is a minor league deal. Just look at how it turned out for the Blue Jays after they signed Ernie Clement to the same type of deal."
Read at BlueJaysNation
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