Rusney Castillo called up by Boston Red Sox
By Ed Carroll
It was expected as far back as this weekend, but on Wednesday the Boston Red Sox officially called up outfielder Rusney Castillo, who defected from Cuba last November and will start tonight in center field. Red Sox manager John Farrell said the 27-year old Castillo will bat seventh in the lineup.
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Castillo signed a seven-year, $72.5-million dollar deal with Boston on August 23, a record for Cuban players. He got a whirlwind tour of the minor leagues in the meantime, and finishes with 39 at bats, hitting .282 with one home run and two stolen bases.
Not bad considering Castillo was basically away from the game for 18 months prior to and after defecting from Cuba.
Castillo was one of Cuba’s top base-stealing threats for years prior to his defection, and he does have some power in his bat as well.
Farrell said Castillo was unlikely to play centerfield in all 11 remaining Red Sox games, as Boston has a few outfielders its trying to get a look at in the waning days of the 2014 season, but likely the most important aspect of Castillo’s call up now, at least from Boston’s perspective, is simply getting Castillo some MLB experience prior to spring training next year, and any 2014 production by Castillo is bonus.
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Boston Red Sox’s Rusney Castillo expected to get call up