Willi Castro

Willi Castro's Biography

Willi Rafael Castro Capellan, popularly known as Willi Castro, was born on 24th April 1997 in Puerto Rico. Recognized as a top-notch utility player in world-class professional baseball, Castro has distinguished himself through his exceptional performances, most notably for the Minnesota Twins team in Major League Baseball (MLB). This account will offer an elaborate biography of his professional journey that can be easily traced back to the year 2013.

It was in July of 2013 when Castro made his first significant move in professional baseball by sealing a deal as an international free agent with the Cleveland Indians. The deal proved pivotal for his career, setting the stage for his debut in the game in 2014. Castro spent the entirety of the 2014 season contributing his talents to the Arizona League Indians. The season saw him achieve a batting average of .239, hit two home runs, and make eleven RBIs within a span of 43 games.

Castro’s baseball journey continued in 2015 when he was part of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. His performance significantly improved, as reflected by his .264 batting average, single home run, and a total of 25 RBIs. Even more remarkable were his 20 stolen bases. So impressive were his feats that he would then go on to play the year 2016 with two teams; The Lake County Captains and Lynchburg Hillcats. Both stints were characterized by commanding performances where he posted a combined .258 batting average along with seven home runs and 49 RBIs.

During the 2017 season, Castro put on an unforgettable show with Lynchburg as he batted .290 and hit a career-high of 11 home runs. His performances earned him 58 RBIs, with 19 stolen bases and a noteworthy .761 OPS. After demonstrating unmatched prowess, the Indians didn’t think twice about adding him to their 40-man roster at the end of the season. As a testament to his continually growing stature, MLB.com listed Castro as Cleveland’s fifth-best prospect entering into the 2018 season. Remarkably, Castro began this season with the Akron RubberDucks.

On July 31, 2018, Castro’s career in professional baseball took an exciting turn when he was traded to Detroit Tigers in an exchange deal for Leonys Martín and Kyle Dowdy. This led to his services being divided between the Erie SeaWolves and the Toledo Mud Hens after the deal was struck. He started his 2019 season with Toledo, which moved him closer to his Major League debut.

Indeed, fate would have it, and on August 24, 2019, the Tigers selected Castro and promoted him into the major leagues. Later on the same night, he made his major league debut during a match against the Minnesota Twins, where he recorded a commendable 2-for-4. His first major league home run came on 22nd September against Josh Osich of the Chicago White Sox. As the season ended, he had a batting average of .230 and one home run under his belt from the 30 games he played.

Castro, beginning the 2020 season in Toledo at the Tigers’ satellite training camp, was eventually recalled to the major league club on August 13, 2020. During this season, Castro impressed with 129 at-bats where he hit .349, six home runs, and recorded 24 RBIs. One of the highlights of his career came in 2021 when he made the Tigers team out of spring training and consequently played his first opening-day game at the major league level.

Notwithstanding some minor hiccups, 2022 saw another notable change in Castro’s career. On April 6, 2022, the Tigers optioned Castro to Triple–A Toledo to begin the 2022 season. However, he was later recalled to Tigers on April 17, 2022, to fill the void left by the injured Javier Báez.

Later on, in 2022, Castro became a free agent after he was non-tendered by the Tigers on November 18, 2022. He sealed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins on December 30, 2022. Castro’s consistency and determination were evident when his contract was selected by the Twins, securing him a position in the team’s Opening Day roster on March 29, 2023.

Castro had an outstanding performance in the 2023 season where he participated in 124 games with the Twins, recording a career-high of 2.7 WAR with a slashing .257/.339/.411. Such was his influence that year that he was named to his first All-Star team in 2024.
In conclusion, Castro’s journey in professional baseball as a utility player provides an inspiring testament to resilience, consistency, and undying determination. Despite numerous setbacks along the way, Castro remains an undisputed force, playing among the major league’s best. His impressive stats and unrelenting spirit continue to demonstrate his enormous potential in the world of professional baseball.