'I want it really bad': Rodolfo Castro has sights set on winning Pirates' starting job at 2B

BRADENTON, Fla. — When the Pittsburgh Pirates opened Grapefruit League play against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, Rodolfo Castro was in the starting lineup but not at his position of preference.

That Castro was across the diamond at third base with Ji Hwan Bae at second wasn’t a matter of Pirates manager Derek Shelton tipping his hand on the starting job but rather had more to do with getting both playing time in spring training.

“Early in the spring, we’ll prioritize second base over the other ones, just (because) it is a competition,” Shelton said. “There are multiple people in that competition. The flip side of that is we only have so many at-bats at that position, similar to catcher. That’s why Rudy played third, just to make sure that we get him at-bats.”

Castro makes no secret that he wants to win the starting job at second base.

“I know it’s a competition, but the only thing I can control is going about my business every day,” Castro said Sunday through translator Stephen Morales. “There’s some things we can’t control, and that’s one of them: Who’s going to wind up there. I’m going to be able to control myself and be able to take that position. I want it. I want it really bad. I’m going to work hard for it.”

Learning to control his emotions has been an emphasis for the 23-year-old Dominican this offseason, as he attempts to put a pair of mental mishaps behind him. Castro was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis in early June after failing to run out a pop fly that Arizona allowed to drop so it could turn a double play. Shelton said the lackadaisical effort was “not acceptable,” and Castro vowed that he’s learned his lesson.

“One of the things I’ve been working on is to control my emotions,” Castro said. “The game can get a little fast and that can take the best out of me emotionally. I’ve been looking for ways to improve that this year, for sure, when it comes to controlling myself when it comes to tough situations.”

Rodolfo Castro Grand Slam! 1st Homerun of Spring Training #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/A1ZOyqKjje

— Homers MLB (@homers_mlb) February 25, 2023

Castro couldn’t contain his celebration, however, when he hit a 397-foot grand slam to center field Saturday in the 9-7 loss to the Blue Jays at LECOM Park. He pointed to the sky as he rounded first, gave an enthusiastic low-five to third base coach Mike Rabelo and pounded his chest before crossing home plate.

“You have to enjoy those things,” Castro said with a smile, “because it doesn’t happen often.”

The play that haunted him came on the day he returned to the majors at Arizona on Aug. 9. As Castro slid into third base, his cell phone popped out of his back pocket, which quickly became a viral video and drew Castro a one-game suspension.

“It was never intentional for me to go out there with my cell phone in my back pocket,” Castro said. “The situation happened. I took it like a man. Now, I learned from it. Personally, I put that behind me, and I’m moving forward.”

No wonder Castro spent the offseason searching for consistency both offensively and defensively. He slashed .318/.375/.591 with two doubles, two triples, four homers and six RBIs in 19 games last August, then batted only .207 but hit four doubles, a triple, six homers and 17 RBIs over the final 31 games.

If Castro prefers playing second base, his numbers show why. He batted .282/.342/.524 in 32 games there last season, 72 points higher than when playing third base (24 games) and 100 points higher than when playing shortstop (17 games). Castro committed a combined 13 errors, five each at second base and shortstop. He was paired with shortstop Oneil Cruz for 14 games, a double-play partnership Cruz has publicly endorsed.

The double play that ended it. pic.twitter.com/ika4saCwea

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 31, 2022

“The last part of the season last year, I feel I made really good adjustments and felt really good at second base,” Castro said. “I think I did pretty good at the end to help the team win. I gave 100% on the field all of the time and I think I did a pretty good job last year that put me in a good spot this year for second base.”

The problem is that Castro’s versatility could hurt him, as he might be the Pirates’ best backup at third base and shortstop. Second base is the preferred position of Bae, whose elite speed has Shelton enamored. Bae also can play center field, so both are trying to make the most of their chances in camp to become Cruz’s double-play partner.

“I think versatility comes into play,” Shelton said. “Who wins that spot at second base will come into play. And then just what fits on our club as a utility player will probably be the most important thing.”