Familiar faces abound for Castro's home debut

DETROIT -- Francisco Lindor remembers Willi Castro as the quiet kid in the corner in Spring Training, seen but rarely heard.

“What stood out about him was how he was always working quietly,” Lindor said Tuesday before the Tigers' 10-1 loss to the Indians at Comerica Park. “He was never bothering people. And he's a good guy from the few weeks with him in Spring Training. ...

“Every time we practiced together or whenever we went together to the games, he was just there in the corner with all the Latin players, just quiet. He was having fun, enjoying the time, but most of the time he was quiet.”

Given the infield depth in the Indians organization, it wasn’t difficult for Castro to blend into the crowd. But all the while he wasn’t talking, he was listening and watching, learning from guys like Lindor, a few years older than him.

Lindor’s presence in Cleveland, along with others, made Castro expendable. For that reason, he says he doesn’t resent the Indians for trading him to Detroit a year ago for veteran center fielder Leonys Martin.

“I think it was good to go out,” Castro said, “because I probably wouldn't have the chance [there] that I have here. Here, I was going to have a better chance, and I'm here in the big leagues.”

The anticipation for Castro’s callup had been building among Tigers fans since his Triple-A All-Star selection at Toledo. After two games at Minnesota over the weekend, Castro -- the Tigers’ No. 11 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline -- made his Comerica Park debut Tuesday night. He went 0-for-4, but handled his chances in the field -- he had a hand in half of Turnbull's first 12 outs, including anchoring a double play on Lindor to end the fourth inning.

In the stands were Castro’s parents, including his dad Liliano, who played two seasons in the Tigers’ farm system before becoming an instructor. Willi’s wife and sister were also on hand, as well as Ramon Pena, a former Tigers scout who signed Castro into the Indians system as a teenager in 2013.

In the other dugout were the Indians and Lindor, who made his Major League debut at Comerica Park in 2015.

“I'm really happy for him,” Lindor said. “He's worked hard and spent probably a year or two more than what he wanted to spend in the Minor Leagues. But hopefully he never goes back down. Hopefully, he can continue to play well. He's playing well so far. I wish him nothing but the best. I'm happy for him and excited to see how good of a baseball player he really is.”

The challenge for Castro could well be the same challenge Lindor said he faced as a rookie.

“I would say it's staying on your toes the entire time,” Lindor said. “The pitchers work really hard, and the more they get the outcome they want, a ground ball, you have to make those plays for them. You understand you're not going to make every one of them, but try to make as many as you can.”

Goodrum diagnosed with adductor strain

The news was good after Niko Goodrum’s visit with core muscle specialist Dr. William Meyers, who diagnosed the second-year Tiger with an adductor strain but no major injury.

Goodrum, who was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend with a left groin strain, is expected to be sidelined 10-14 days before he can resume baseball activity, according to Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire. While that puts him on track to potentially return in mid-September, the Tigers could also decide to shut him down and not risk it.

“He’s going to have to lay off all baseball activities,” Gardenhire said, “so we’ll see what happens. We’re pushing the envelope.”

The Tigers were already trying to be cautious with Goodrum’s injury, sitting him for four days before he returned to the starting lineup last Thursday at Houston. He left Friday’s series opener at Minnesota after aggravating the injury.

Rabelo tabbed to manage in Arizona Fall League

No announcement yet on which Tigers prospects will head to the Arizona Fall League next month, but they’ll have a familiar face managing them. Former Tigers catcher Mike Rabelo, who has managed Double-A Erie to the brink of a postseason berth this year, will lead the Mesa Solar Sox into action this fall, according to a league announcement Monday.

Rabelo has the SeaWolves vying for their first postseason berth since 2013 with a roster that includes six of Detroit’s top 10 prospects, and a rotation that features three pitchers on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list.