Juan Castro
Castro speaking with the media.
Philadelphia Phillies — No. --
Infielder
Born: June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) (age 37) Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1995 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Career statistics (through 2009)
Batting average	.230
Home runs	36
Runs batted in	220
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (1995-1999) Cincinnati Reds (2000-2004) Minnesota Twins (2005-2006) Cincinnati Reds (2006-2008) Baltimore Orioles (2008) Los Angeles Dodgers (2009) Philadelphia Phillies (2010-present)

Juan Gabriel Castro (born June 20, 1972, in Los Mochis, Mexico) is a Major League Baseball infielder, who is currently playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. Castro bats and throws right-handed.

[edit] Baseball career

Castro was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991 and began his trek through the minor leagues with the Great Falls Dodgers in 1991. He followed that up with time spent with the Bakersfield Dodgers, San Antonio Missions and Albuquerque Dukes. He was selected to the Texas League All-Star Team while with San Antonio in 1994.

Castro made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 2, 1995 against the Montreal Expos as a defensive replacement at third base. He got his first at bat on September 11 and recorded his first career hit in his first career start, on the final day of the season, October 1, against the San Diego Padres.

Playing for the Dodgers was especially meaningful for Castro, as he idolized fellow Mexican and former Dodgers pitching ace Fernando Valenzuela as a child.

Castro played for the Dodgers through the 1999 season. His primary position was shortstop, but he also backed up at second base and third base. After seeing very little playing time during the 1999 season, Castro was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds for Kenny Lutz on April 1, 2000, just before the start of the season.

He played with the Reds from 2000-04, mostly as a utility player.

In 2005, Castro was signed by the Minnesota Twins as a backup to rookie shortstop Jason Bartlett. Bartlett struggled and Castro saw increased playing time.

On June 15, 2006, Castro was traded back to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league outfielder Brandon Roberts. On April 21, 2008, he was designated for assignment by the Reds. On May 2, 2008, he became a free agent. After spending some time playing for the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on July 19, and was immediately added to the major league roster. Castro started more games at shortstop than any other player in 2008 for the Orioles. He became a free agent at the end of the season and on January 4, 2009, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with his original team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[1] He spent the season as a backup infielder and then filed for free agency again. According to his agent, Castro has agreed to a one year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 24.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)