Targeting Twins may pay off big time for Castro

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It came as a surprise to Willi Castro when the Tigers non-tendered him last offseason. But when it came time to decide where he wanted to play next, he was all-in on Minnesota from early in the process -- and he already thinks it’s clear he made the right choice.

Now, in the waning days of Spring Training, Castro is still in Minnesota’s lineup alongside the majority of the club’s regulars. And given the news of the past few days, it’s not tough to imagine that Castro’s choice to join the Twins could lead to the club’s Opening Day roster.

“I think this is one of the best Spring Trainings that I've had,” Castro said. “It's been a couple of years. I think I've showed the stuff that I have, the tools that I have, the abilities that I have. That's the main stuff I've been focusing on when I came into camp. Just trying to do my best. Wherever they put me, whatever position, I get the job done.”

The Twins’ Opening Day position player situation already looked crowded before they signed Donovan Solano to bolster their infield depth. But even so, there could still be a need.

Byron Buxton played in his first big league Spring Training game on Tuesday, leading off as the designated hitter, and Jose Miranda played first base in a Minor League game after a sore right shoulder had limited him to DHing on the big league side all spring. Alex Kirilloff has started playing in Minor League games but was said to be behind schedule earlier this spring, and Jorge Polanco’s availability for Opening Day remains in question due to lingering knee soreness.

If one of those players hadn’t been available for Opening Day, Trevor Larnach would almost certainly have been the one to step up. But if both Kirilloff and Polanco miss Opening Day, could the door open for Castro?

“They haven't told me much,” Castro said. “I know the mentality that I came in, I just want to make the roster. I just came in ready for everything. For now, I'm doing pretty good. I've just got to keep it that way and see what happens.”

The two leading candidates to serve as that additional next man up behind Larnach could be Castro and club No. 4 prospect Edouard Julien. But the latter was already optioned to Triple-A St. Paul amid a monster performance for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, when he led all regular hitters in OPS during pool play.

Though Julien’s bat can do damage, he doesn’t yet have a clear defensive home. His focus this spring has been at second base, but he’s still said to be a work in progress there -- and he hasn’t yet played above the Double-A level.

Still only 25, Castro played every defensive position but first base and catcher for the Tigers last season. But his tendencies to chase out of the zone, struggles to get on base and .673 career OPS led to his being non-tendered -- and his arrival in Twins camp on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Major League camp.

Once a shortstop prospect, Castro is a switch-hitter who could fill in at second base in Polanco’s stead, or at third if Miranda is still limited to first base, perhaps with Kyle Farmer or Nick Gordon at second.

“There’s really nothing that Willi hasn’t shown us,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s hungry, too. He plays hard, he works hard every day and every drill we’re doing. He gives it everything that you could ask a player to give. He’s been a great, great performer in our camp.”

Though his strikeout tendencies have still been prominent, Castro also shared the club lead in hits (nine), runs (five) and extra-base hits (12) in Grapefruit League play entering Tuesday. Castro has also cut down the strikeout rate from 30.9 percent as a rookie in 2019 to 20.9 percent in ‘22, with marked decreases in each season -- though he still ranked poorly in batted ball and chase metrics.

“Just being patient,” Castro said. “Sometimes, as a player -- not just me, but every player -- sometimes, you try to do more than what you've got to do, and that's the stuff I've been focusing on. I know when I'm there, just settling down, getting a good pitch to hit, everything just comes out natural.”

Castro isn’t yet on the 40-man roster, but the Twins now have a free slot due to Dennis Santana’s departure. And while no firm determinations have been made regarding Polanco and Kirilloff, the Twins will soon have to make a call on each player -- and don’t be surprised if Castro has played himself into the conversation.