Can Castro make jump from Vancouver to Toronto?

He came across like a child within a man's body.

In a crowd, he stuck out like a sore thumb and you just couldn't take your eyes off of him. At six-foot, six inches tall, former Vancouver Canadians pitcher Miguel Castro was an easy person to pick out of a crowd, and that was before you stuffed him into a baseball uniform and then watched him unleashed a 99-mile-per-hour fastball that made you realize more than the height, you were witnessing something special.

Miguel Castro is ready for the Major Leagues, physically. Sure he could add another 15-20 pounds on a frame that stores little fat. But his fastball, his slider and his curiousity about the game of baseball will all serve him well when Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager John Gibbons decide to summon the Dominican Republic flamethrower.

At just 20-years old, there is unquestionably a red flag surrounding his mental ability at the Big League level. Can he handle the pressures, the schedule and the demand that comes with pitching at the game's highest level. 

Remember this. Miguel is not your ordinary young man.

With the Canadians in 2014, Miguel would never be found out late at night or focusing on the elements that can draw so many away from the game of baseball. He would watch baseball highlights on youtube around the clubhouse, around the stadium almost oblivious to the eyes that watched his every move. He would tote around a lone iPad and watch - baseball. He would study his idol Pedro Martinez and in broken English simply state 'I want to be him'.

His smile is electric, much like his fastball and yet you cheer for Miguel because of the person he is. A soft soul that just happens to have an arm kissed by the Gods. He is pleasant, never overwhelming and if anything is shy.

Castro isn't perfect on the mound. He still needs to understand that placed in a jam, throwing harder doesn't always equal success. Yes, sometimes you can get a late round college sign out on a good ol' fashioned heater, but in the Major Leagues, '99' is hittable. Savvy is what makes you a winner.

Russell Martin is the key to Miguel's success and sticking with the big club should he arrive in Toronto blue one day. Martin is firm, yet approachable - something Miguel will need as he comes to terms with his place in the baseball world.

Miguel doesn't ask you, sometimes you have to coax it out of him. It's not that he doesn't want to learn, he's again - just shy.

But being shy doesn't last long in the Major Leagues and it is the hopes of many that have passed him over the past few years that he can accept his God-given talent and understands that this opportunity doesn't come very often.

He will have to come to terms with the fact that someday, somewhere, a young, up-and-coming pitcher will watch around almost oblivious to all of the eyes that are watching his every move, studying their idol, Miguel Castro.

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