Juan Gabriel Castro (born June 20, 1972), is a Mexican professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

coach and former

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field, between first base and third base. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns pla ...

, who played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

, and

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

, during his 17-year big league career. Castro was known mainly for his defensive abilities. He was primarily a reserve player. Castro batted and threw right-handed. Following his retirement as a player, Castro joined the Dodgers organization as a coach. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Castro was the infield coach for the Phillies.

Playing career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Castro was signed as an undrafted

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

by the

in 1991 and began his trek through the

minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

with the

Great Falls Voyagers The Great Falls Voyagers are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Great Falls, Montana, and play their home games at Cente ...

in 1991. He followed that up with time spent with the

Bakersfield Dodgers Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. Bakersf ...

San Antonio Missions The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Missions compete in the Texas League as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Nelson W. W ...

and

Albuquerque Dukes The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. History The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Fran ...

. He was selected to the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

All-Star Team while with San Antonio in 1994. Castro made his major league debut with the

on September 2, against the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...

as a defensive replacement at

third base A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

. He got his first at bat on September 11, and recorded his first career hit in his first career start on October 1 against the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

. Playing for the Dodgers was especially meaningful for Castro, as he idolized fellow Mexican and former Dodgers pitching ace

Fernando Valenzuela Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (; November 1, 1960 – October 22, 2024), nicknamed "El Toro", was a Mexican professional baseball pitcher. Valenzuela played 17 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons, from 1980 to 1997 (except for a one-year sabba ...

as a child. Castro played for the Dodgers through the season. His primary position was

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...

, but he also backed up at

second base In baseball and softball, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the infield, between second and first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must ...

and

Cincinnati Reds

After seeing very little playing time during the 1999 season, Castro was traded by the Dodgers to the

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 sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. Sports in which the term is often used include association football, basketball, American football, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, softball, ice hockey, and water ...

. 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 the

as a backup to rookie shortstop Jason Bartlett. Bartlett struggled and Castro saw increased playing time. He batted .257/.279/.386, and his nine sacrifices were seventh in the league.

Cincinnati Reds (second stint)

On June 15, , Castro was traded back to the

for minor league

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...

Brandon Roberts. On September 25, 2006, the Reds signed him to a two-year, $2 million extension. On April 21, , Castro was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Reds.

Baltimore Orioles

On May 2, , he became a

, and signed with the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

. After spending some time playing for the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado R ...

, he was traded to the

on July 19 for infielder Mike McCoy, and was immediately added to the major league roster. Castro started more games at

than any other player in 2008 for the Orioles.

Los 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

. 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

on November 24. Castro temporarily replaced

Jimmy Rollins James Calvin Rollins (born November 27, 1978), nicknamed "J-Roll", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (–), Los Angeles Dodgers (), and Chicago White S ...

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 Harry Leroy Halladay III (May 14, 1977 – November 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies between 1998 and 2013. His nickname, "Doc ...

'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 The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an ...

. 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 The Mexico national baseball team (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Selección de béisbol de México'') is the baseball team that represents Mexico in international tournaments. It is currently the 2nd-ranked baseball team in the world. Current rost ...

in the

2013 World Baseball Classic The 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, held from March 2 to 19, 2013. This was the third iteration of the WBC, following the two previous tournaments, held in 2006 and 2009. Unlike the tw ...

. 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 The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. In 2018, Castro returned to the

Mexican Pacific League The Mexican Pacific League (, or LMP), also known as the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico for sponsorship reasons, is a professional baseball Winter league baseball, winter league based in Northwestern Mexico. The league comprises 10 teams. It wa ...

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

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

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