Astros' First Round Pick Jason Castro to Join ValleyCats

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Astros' First Round Pick Jason Castro to Join ValleyCats
07/12/2008 3:28 PM ET
Tri-City ValleyCats

TROY, N.Y. - The Houston Astros announced today that they have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick C Jason Castro from Stanford University. The announcement was made by Astros Director of Amateur Scouting Bobby Heck. Castro will report to the ValleyCats on Monday, July 14 where he will be introduced.
"We have a heard a lot about Jason Castro," said ValleyCats Manager Pete Rancont. "It is exciting to have him as a member of the Astros family and hopefully this is just the first stop on his way to Houston."
Castro, 20, a 6-3, 210-pound college junior from Castro Valley, Calif., batted .376 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI in 67 games played for Stanford in 2008. Castro helped Stanford to a 41-24-2 record and a berth in the College World Series. En route to the College World Series, Castro was named as the catcher on the Stanford Regional All-Tournament Team. He was named to the All-Pac-10 team this season and ranks in the top 10 in multiple categories in the Pac-10 including batting average, runs scored, hits, RBI, and total bases.
Prior to his junior season, Castro played in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2007 and batted .341 (second-best in the League) with 24 RBI to earn an All-League selection and a spot in the CCBL All-Star Game.
A 2005 graduate of Castro Valley High School, Castro was listed among Street and Smith's 2005 High School All-America Prep Seniors to Watch and named as the 10th-best high school prospect in Northern California by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005. He led Castro Valley High School to three consecutive North Coast Section playoff appearances (2003-05) while compiling a .400 batting average over his three-year varsity prep career. Castro was selected in the 43rd round by the Boston Red Sox in 2005 but elected to attend Stanford.
The ValleyCats will introduce Castro to the media on Monday, July 14 at a time to be determined.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.