Marcos Castanon

Castanon fell under the radar in high school playing in talent-rich Southern California, but he frequently outperformed more high-profile players and set his school record for most career hits. He continued that trend as a four-year starter at UC Santa Barbara and hit .412/.508/.742 this spring through the Gauchos’ regional opener despite missing almost two months with a broken hand. Castanon is a strong 6-foot, 195-pound infielder who just plain hits. He has solid bat speed, controls the strike zone and has a natural feel for the barrel. He crushes fastballs, stays on breaking balls and drives the ball with authority from center to left field. He began tapping into power more this year and hit a career-high eight home runs in only 25 games. There are no doubts about Castanon’s bat, but finding a position for him is challenging. He is a below-average runner, has a below-average arm and has poor range at second base because he doesn’t move well laterally. He has a thick build with a strong lower half and projects to slow down more with age. Castanon’s bat fits in the top-10 rounds, but his defensive limitations make him a Day Three draft candidate for most teams. He is a fourth-year junior considered likely to sign.