Playing career
Los Angeles Dodgers
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 Voyagers 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, against theCincinnati Reds
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 to 2004, mostly as a utility player. In 2003, he batted .253/.290/.388 with career highs of nine home runs and 33 RBI in 113 games.Minnesota Twins
In , Castro was signed by theCincinnati Reds (second stint)
On June 15, , Castro was traded back to the Cincinnati Reds for minor leagueBaltimore Orioles
On May 2, , he became a free agent, and signed with theLos Angeles Dodgers (second stint)
He became a free agent at the end of the season and on January 4, , he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with his original team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent the season as a backup infielder and then filed for free agency again.Philadelphia Phillies
Castro agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 24. Castro temporarily replaced Jimmy Rollins at shortstop after Rollins suffered a right calf injury. Playing third base, Castro fielded the ground ball and threw to first, completing the 27th and final out of Roy Halladay's perfect game on May 29, 2010.Los Angeles Dodgers (third stint)
Castro was released by the Phillies on July 17, 2010, and returned to the Dodgers on a minor-league contract on July 27, 2010. The Dodgers called him up to the Majors on August 11, 2010. He appeared in one game and was designated for assignment on August 21. The Dodgers had intended to recall him when rosters expanded in September, but he chose to remain home to attend to an ailing family member. He became a free agent after the season but re-signed with the Dodgers on a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. On May 13, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Dodgers. After appearing in seven games, during which he was 4-for-14 (.286), he was again designated for assignment on June 6.Retirement
He retired from baseball on July 10, 2011. Over 17 years in the major leagues, he batted .229/.268/.327.Coaching career
Castro agreed to a new position as a special assistant to the general manager with the Dodgers, with involvement in player development and talent evaluation. He was also a coach with the Mexico national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Castro was the Dodgers minor league infield coordinator in 2015. In 2016, he was added to the Dodgers major league staff as a quality assurance coach. After the 2017 season, he left the Dodgers to become the director of operations for the Tijuana Toros in the Mexican League. In 2018, Castro returned to the Mexican Pacific League to manage the Águilas de Mexicali, his second stint as manager of the club. In 2019, Castro was announced as manager for Team Mexico at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 tournament. He joined the Philadelphia Phillies as an infield coach prior to the 2020 season. Castro was dismissed from his position on October 3, 2021, before the Phillies played their final game of the 2021 season. In January 2022, Castro was named manager of the Mexican League team Diablos Rojos del México. In his first season, he led the team to a 50–24 record and a first place regular season finish in the LMB South Division. However, the team lost to eventual champions Leones de Yucatán in the Division Championship. Castro returned in 2023, but was fired on May 7, 2023, after a 6–9 start to the season.References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castro, Juan 1972 births 2006 World Baseball Classic players Albuquerque Dukes players Albuquerque Isotopes players Baltimore Orioles players Bakersfield Dodgers players Baseball players from Los Mochis Cañeros de Los Mochis players Cincinnati Reds players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Diablos Rojos del México managers Great Falls Dodgers players Living people Los Angeles Dodgers coaches Los Angeles Dodgers players Louisville Bats players Major League Baseball players from Mexico 20th-century Mexican sportsmen Major League Baseball shortstops Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States Minnesota Twins players Naranjeros de Hermosillo managers Philadelphia Phillies players San Antonio Missions players Toros de Tijuana managers World Baseball Classic players of Mexico