Does Allan Castro's stock continue to sky rocket?
Castro entered the 2023 season barely on the radar. He was there but had a long way to climb. A raw power prospect, it was unclear what Castro would bring to the table.
When the season started, and Castro was assigned to the Single-A Salem Red Sox, MiLB's transaction page called the outfielder a second baseman. That should tell you where his standing was at the time.
Castro started the year in Single-A as part of a loaded outfield. It was hard to get regular and consistent playing time with Roman Anthony, Miguel Bleis, Juan Chacon, and others on the roster.
Castro made an immediate impact, though. The switch-hitter started the year with a four-game hitting streak that included a grand slam. A massive cold spell brought Castro down to earth, and soon he had to start trying to build himself back up.
Even through the struggles, Castro kept drawing walks and getting on base. In July, he was promoted to High-A despite not fully digging himself out, akin to what Roman Anthony was doing.
With Greenville, Castro thrived. He became one of the best bats in the lineup, showcasing fantastic plate discipline and plenty of pop. The switch-hitter finished the season hitting .261/.368/.405 with 31 doubles, four triples, and seven home runs between Single-A and High-A. He drove in 46 runs, scored 62 more, and stole 19 bases in 112 games (492 plate appearances).
Castro will start the year as a 20-year-old in High-A with 43 games (186 plate appearances) at the level under his belt.
In 2023, he went from barely on the radar to a guy in MLB's top 30 prospects for the Red Sox, SoxProspect's number 14, and my number 11. What will Castro have in store for 2024?
Does he continue to dominate in High-A? Will he be promoted to Double-A by the end of the season? Do we see Castro climb the prospect rankings even higher? Don't be surprised if he becomes one of the more talked about talents in the system for the Boston Red Sox.