With their free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette appearing increasingly uncertain to return, the Toronto Blue Jays on November 26, made an under-the-radar move that could be seen as readying themselves for life without their 27-year-old two-time All-Star. They signed a free-agent shortstop who, in his brief major league career, has hit home runs in 3.5 percent of his plate appearances.
That number is well above the typical MLB shortstop, who homers in approximately 2 percent of all plate appearances, and slightly above Bichette, whose career home run percentage sits at 3.4 percent.
Of course, Rodolfo Castro’s career is a textbook case of small sample size. But the Blue Jays may be anticipating that Castro could provide a burst of home run power in a somewhat extended big-league tenure as at least a temporary fill-in assignment at shortstop until Toronto president and CEO Mark Shapiro can acquire a permanent replacement for Bichette, who an increasing number of baseball experts believe will sign elsewhere.
After signing with the Blue Jays, Castro joined Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League, where he has proceeded to immediately put the home run power that presumably led Toronto to acquire him on full display.
Castro Belts Sixth Home Run in 19 Games
When Castro signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2015 for a $150,000 bonus, he was seen as “a switch-hitter with immense power potential. During his time in the minor leagues, he consistently showcased his power,” according to writer Bryce Naughton of the Pirates news site Rum Bunter.
When he was finally called up to the Pirates in 2021, Castro made quite a first impression. His first five major league hits were all home runs â a feat that no player since 1900 had ever achieved, according to Naughton.
Still only 26 years old, Castro does not appear to have lost his home run stroke. On Wednesday, he belted his sixth home run of the Dominican Winter League season.
The blast helped propel Estrellas to a 4-2 win over Santo Domingo-based Tigres del Licey, the 23-time Dominican Winter League champions.
GettyRodolfo Castro
Castro Already Fourth in DWL Homers
Castro’s home run raised him to fourth in the league, and second in home run rate with one every 14.5 at-bats.
Only Miguel Sanó, a third baseman who was released by the Los Angeles Angels on July 13 and remains a free agent, has hit homers at a better rate in the current DWL season, with one every 9.9 at-bats and a league-leading total of nine.
Will Castro be called upon to bring his power to the Rogers Centre in 2026? While the chances are probably against it, the Blue Jays will likely be in need of power production from the shortstop position.
By playing second base in the 2025 World Series, and reportedly making it known that he is willing to shift from shortstop to second with a new team, Bichette appears to have expanded his free-agent market â though as of Saturday evening he remains unsigned.
According to longtime MLB insider Mark Feinsand of MLB Network, Bichette is likely now on the radar of the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox, as well as the Blue Jays and possibly other teams, as he waits to receive a free-agent offer that finalizes his decision on where to play the next several years of his career.
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