- Full name Nelson Castro
- Born
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Castro reminds the Giants in part of where they've been as an organization, and also where they need improvement. Picked up off waivers from the Angels, he has become one of the organization's most effective middle infielders, spending 2001 as the everyday shortstop in Double-A before getting a short trial at second base in Triple-A. Castro's best tools are his arm, which the organization grades as a 75 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, and his speed. He showed offensive improvement at Shreveport, hitting for more power than in the past, but he strikes out too much to expect that power to play at higher levels. Castro's play is erratic at the plate and in the field, which makes him unlikely to be a big league starter. He makes careless mistakes that drive managers crazy. His tools are too much to ignore, though, and the Giants hope to turn him into a utilityman extraordinaire, adding center field to his repertoire. Down the line, they think he can fill the role Shawon Dunston has played for them in recent years. -
Castro was on the prospect scrap heap not long ago, waived by the Angels following the 1999 season. He had risen from a two-way player who pitched and played shortstop in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League to the Angels' No. 7 prospect after the 1997 season, but he was slow to adjust offensively and struggled in two years in the California League. The Giants sent Castro back to the Cal League in 2000 before their lack of infield depth prompted his promotion to Fresno. Castro is a tools player with decent bat speed, good running speed and an excellent arm, which ranks as a 7 on the 2-to-8 scouting scale. He was rated the best infield arm in both the California and Pacific Coast leagues last year, and managers also named him the Cal League’s best defensive shortstop. Castro could move to second base, though, because he isn't a fundamentally sound defender at short. His arm could help him overcome his shaky footwork and range on the other side of the bag.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Claimed on waivers by the Giants last fall, Castro turned into the player the Angels had always hoped for. He was a disruptive force on the basepaths, displayed the best middle-infield range in the league and showed an even more potent throwing arm. "All the skills that everyone had always raved about with Nelson came across this year," Sakata said. "His across-the-board plus tools, the arm, the range, his basestealing ability, were shown each night. "The thing that most impressed me about him was his fielding remained above average despite the fact we play on the bumpiest infield in the Cal League. He kept his head down and played every ball with routine expertise. That's what put him over the top in my book, because he has such great range to both his left and right. Every night, he turned in an average or above-average major league play." Sakata believes Castro was motivated by playing in the Cal League for a third consecutive season, finally understanding he was going nowhere unless he maintained an everyday commitment to the game. He smacked balls with authority and shined in the field while his speed, of course, never slumped. Castro still must improve his on-base ability and eliminate his tendency for nonchalance on defense.
Scouting Reports
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Claimed on waivers by the Giants last fall, Castro turned into the player the Angels had always hoped for. He was a disruptive force on the basepaths, displayed the best middle-infield range in the league and showed an even more potent throwing arm. "All the skills that everyone had always raved about with Nelson came across this year," Sakata said. "His across-the-board plus tools, the arm, the range, his basestealing ability, were shown each night. "The thing that most impressed me about him was his fielding remained above average despite the fact we play on the bumpiest infield in the Cal League. He kept his head down and played every ball with routine expertise. That's what put him over the top in my book, because he has such great range to both his left and right. Every night, he turned in an average or above-average major league play." Sakata believes Castro was motivated by playing in the Cal League for a third consecutive season, finally understanding he was going nowhere unless he maintained an everyday commitment to the game. He smacked balls with authority and shined in the field while his speed, of course, never slumped. Castro still must improve his on-base ability and eliminate his tendency for nonchalance on defense.