Ryan Michael Castellani (born April 1, 1996) is an American 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 ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
who is a free agent. He has previously 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
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 ...
and
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
. Born in the United States, he has represented the
Italy national baseball team.
Amateur career
Castellani attended
Brophy College Preparatory in
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
. He was drafted by 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 ...
in the second round of the
2014 Major League Baseball draft
The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...
and signed.
Professional career
Colorado Rockies
Castellani made his professional debut that year with the
Tri-City Dust Devils and spent the whole season there, going 1–2 with a 3.65 ERA in ten starts. Castellani spent 2015 with the
Asheville Tourists where he was 2–7 with a 4.45 ERA in 27 starts, and 2016 with the
Modesto Nuts where he posted a 7–8 record with a 3.81 ERA in 26 starts. In 2017, he pitched for the
Hartford Yard Goats, pitching to a 9–2 record and 4.81 ERA in 27 games started. He spent 2018 with Hartford, going 7–9 with a 5.49 ERA in 26 starts.
The Rockies added Castellani to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.
He also made it 7 starts with the
Salt River Rafters of the
Arizona Fall League following the 2018 season. He spent 2019 with the
Albuquerque Isotopes, pitching to a 2–5 record and an 8.31 ERA over ten starts, striking out 47 over innings. He returned to the Salt River Rafters following 2019. On June 23, 2020, it was announced that Castellani had tested positive for
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. He returned in time for the start of summer camp on July 4.
Castellani made his major league debut with the Rockies on August 8, 2020, against the Seattle Mariners, retiring the first 12 batters he faced.
In his rookie year, Castellani logged a 1–4 record and 5.82 ERA in 10 appearances.
Castellani only made one appearance for the Rockies in 2021, giving up 2 runs in innings, before he was designated for assignment on June 24, 2021. He was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque on June 30. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
Oakland Athletics
On November 23, 2021, Castellani signed a minor league contract with the
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
. He spent time with the Athletics in spring training, and was optioned to minor league camp before the 2022 season began. On April 15, 2022, Castellani was added to the Athletics roster for their road trip to Toronto as a COVID-related substitute. Castellani made 3 scoreless appearances for Oakland, striking out one in 2.2 innings of work. On April 29, he was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to the Triple-A
Las Vegas Aviators. He struggled to an 11.97 ERA in 26 games for Las Vegas before he was released on July 28, 2022.
Gastonia Honey Hunters
On February 13, 2023, Castellani signed with the
Kansas City Monarchs of the
American Association of Professional Baseball
The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor ...
. Prior to the start of the AA season, on May 1, Castellani was traded to the
Gastonia Honey Hunters of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and the headquarters are l ...
in exchange for future considerations. He became a free agent following the season after not appearing in a game.
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna
On May 6, 2024, Castellani signed with the
Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the
Mexican League. In 7 starts for Unión Laguna, he struggled immensely, going 0-2 with a 7.33 ERA with more walks (20) than strikeouts (13) across 27 innings pitched. Castellani was released on July 22.
World Baseball Classic
Castellani opened two games for
Team Italy in the
World Baseball Classic in March 2023, with two earned runs and three strikeouts over four innings.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Castellani, Ryan
1996 births
Living people
American people of Italian descent
Baseball players from Philadelphia
Major League Baseball pitchers
Colorado Rockies players
Oakland Athletics players
Tri-City Dust Devils players
Asheville Tourists players
Modesto Nuts players
Hartford Yard Goats players
Albuquerque Isotopes players
21st-century American sportsmen
Salt River Rafters players
2023 World Baseball Classic players