Welington Castillo: Adds Depth to Catcher Position
By Bill Pivetz
Aug 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo (7) hits a three run home run during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Arizona Diamondbacks defeated Washington Nationals 11-4 Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
As I mentioned in an earlier piece, the catcher position has not been kind to fantasy owners. If you missed out on the top two or three names, then you were left diving through the waiver wire for a starter. However, with the June trade, Welington Castillo joined the Arizona Diamondbacks and has been a top-15 catcher this season. If you need catcher help, and most fantasy owners do, then go out and pick Castillo up.
Castillo began the 2015 season with the Chicago Cubs. In 24 games, he hit two home runs and five RBI with a poor .163 batting average. He was then traded to the Seattle Mariners in May. With them, he had a .160 batting average in six games before being traded again. Though, the move to the Southwest may have helped Castillo.
In 43 games with the Diamondbacks, Welington Castillo has 12 home runs, 25 RBI, 44:14 K:BB rate and a .299 batting average. In his past 15 games, Castillo is hitting .371 with seven homers and 10 RBI. He has a home run in three of his last five games.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle
At this point in the season, or at any point for that matter, it is incredibly hard to find a power-hitting catcher. If he is available in your league, and trust me he is, go to your waiver wire and pick him up. Castillo is the No. 12 catcher on the Player Rater overall, No. 3 over the last 30 days and No. 1 over the last 15.
Let’s just hope that the top of the Diamondbacks’ lineup can get on base a little more, so those solo home runs can become two- or three-run shots for Welington Castillo.
With very little catching help on the waiver wire, fantasy owners are jumping at the chance to add Castillo. He is the most-added catcher of the last seven days, jumping 18.9 percent in ESPN.com leagues.