Chicago Cubs manager: Starlin Castro is 100 percent

Feb 19, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro (13) fields a ground ball during a workout at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The health of Starlin Castro has been one of the biggest storylines at spring training for the Chicago Cubs as the Cubs shortstop continues to heal after missing most of March with a strained hamstring.

While fans are concerned about Castro who slumped all season long as he showed signs of struggle for the first time in his major league career, first-year Cubs manager Rick Renteria tried to allay some of those concerns declaring his All-Star shortstop fully healthy.

“I’m totally comfortable with his health,” Renteria said. “He’s 100 percent.”

Castro appeared in minor league action last week and looked good in the batter’s box, smacking a couple of doubles, but running very gingerly out of the box and on the basepaths.

The plan is for Castro to get six or seven at-bats in a minor league game on Wednesday, according to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat and to see how his leg feels after before moving forward with having him appear in a Cactus League game.

He is fully expected to be in the Opening Day lineup, but it’s a question about what type of condition he will be in after missing about three weeks of action as he attempts to return to the form he showed his first three seasons in Chicaqgo.