Wilkin Castillo, More Than a Catcher

G-Braves catchers have split the time behind the dish this season, but with J.C. Boscan recently recalled to Atlanta, C Wilkin Castillo will likely see an increase in playing time. Castillo is a seasoned veteran who is known for his defensive skills behind the plate and will have the ability to prove his worth.

Castillo, who is originally from Bani in the Dominican Republic, was signed by the Diamondbacks as a non-drafted free agent in 2003. He spent his first professional season in the Dominican Summer League playing for the DSL Diamondbacks. Castillo started his career off with a bang, hitting .301 in 59 games with 9 2B, 4 3B, a HR, and 29 RBI with .356 OBP.

The following season Castillo took the voyage across the Caribbean and made his US debut with the Missoula Osprey, a rookie league team in the Pioneer League. The young catcher played 63 games for the Osprey hitting .272 with 13 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 32 RBI and 5 SB. He was then promoted to the highest Minor League level to play for the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders. Castillo struggled in only six games with the club, but was limited to only 20 at bats.

The following season, the Bani native played the entire 2005 season with the South Bend Silver Haws in the Midwest League, the Single-A team for the Diamondbacks. Castillo played in a season high 113 games combined at catcher, third base and all three outfield positions. Castillo had a break out year, hitting a career high .302 AVG with 21 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 53 RBI, 26 BB and 9 SB. He finished the year ranked 10th in the league in average and threw out an impressive 44% (24-of-55) of baserunners attempting to steal.

In 2006 the G-Braves backstop split time across three levels, beginning the season in Single-A advanced with the Lancaster JetHawks in the California League. Castillo hit .285 with 10 2B and 3 HR before his promotion to Double-A Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League. While with Lancaster, Castillo led the entire league in hitting with a .395 average in the month of July. Castillo also had a brief stint back with the Tucson in May of that season as well.

Castillo remained in the Southern League in 2007, but the Diamondbacks changed affiliates from the Smokies to the Mobile Bay Bears. The Dominican was once again called on to play positions other than catcher. For the first time in his career, Catillo played every position of the infield with the exception of first base. He spent the entire year in Mobile and played with future stars Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds and Max Scherzer. He finished the year with a .302 AVG, tying his career high and was also good enough for the ninth best average in the league. He also hit a career best 31 doubles, which put him second on the team and fourth in the Southern League. He was rewarded by not only being named to the Southern League All-Star game, but his contract was purchased by the Diamondbacks after the season and he was added to the 40-man roster.

Prior to the beginning of the 2008 season, Castillo was named as the 14th best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization. He started the season once again with Tucson and played 104 games hitting .254 AVG with 18 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, and 47 RBI. On 8/18/08 for the first time in his career, Castillo was traded. Castillo was sent to the Cincinnati Reds as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Adam Dunn to the Diamondbacks. Castillo reported to Triple-A Louisville where he only played 11 games for the club, before making his Major League debut as a September call-up. The backstop and all around utility player, played 17 games with the Big League club, making his MLB debut on 9/2/08 as a pinch hitter and recording his first career MLB hit the following game as a pinch hitter. Castillo continued to have some success in the Bigs, with two 3-hit games against the Milwaukee Brewers on 9/8/08 and 9/9/08.

Unfortunately while Castillo was at the height of his career, Castillo suffered a season ending injury during a stint with the Reds. Castillo finished the year playing only 37 games with the Louisville Bats ad only 4 games with the Reds. Following the season, Castillo was removed from the 60 day DL and then outrighted to Louisville.

In his last season in the Reds organization, Castillo spent the entire season with the Louisville Bats, the G-Braves Rival in the International League West division. Castillo played 92 games for the Bats hitting .256 with 16 2B, 3 3B, which tied for second most on the team, and a career high 9 HR, and 21 multi-hit games.

In 2010 the Dominican catcher became a Minor League Free Agent and signed with the Atlanta Braves organization with an invitation to Spring Training. Castillo was assigned to Gwinnett where he has spent the entire season. Castillo struggled heavily in April, but turned it on in May. In the fifth month of the year, Castillo hit .300 (18-for-60) in 16 games with 3 2B and a 3B. His defense, which was shaky in the beginning of the season, has improved greatly as well. He is in the top ten in fielding percentage in catchers in the IL, committing only six past balls. He has caught 13-of-19, 41% of the runners trying to steal a base off of him, which helps rank the G-Braves third in the league in caught stealing percentage (34%).

Wilkin Castillo has proved over the course of his nine year career that he can be a valuable asset, not only behind home plate, but at nearly every other position as well. He is one of several tools that Manager Dave Brundage will count on as the G-Braves look to make the Governors' Cup playoffs for the second time in franchise history.