2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Prospects: 30-21

2022 Pre-Season SF Giants Prospects: 30-21

22. Kervin Castro

Position: RHP
Age: 22
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Projected Level: San Francisco (MLB)
MLB ETA: 2021

Tool Grades: (Present/Future)

FB 60/60 | CB 55/55 | CMD 50/50

PV 40 | FV 40

One of the three Latino pitchers that were protected in the 40-man roster last season, Castro proved to be the most consistent of the three as he’s had a relatively solid season in Sacramento facing hitters that were at least a couple of years younger than him. His consistent pitching earned him a spot in the big-league bullpen in September as he pitched frequently, being used in different spots of the game.

Castro focused on his two best pitches during the quarantine and earned great reviews during the Instructional League last year. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and peaks at 97 MPH. The pitch is as straight as an arrow, but it has good rising action because of his high-¾ arm slot. Its pitch utilization in the Majors is not currently excellent as he leaves it right down the middle instead of in the upper third of the zone based on his heat maps. His high-70s to low-80s curveball does not have a high spin rate, but its spin axis mirrors his fastball axis well and has bat-missing break. Castro works his curveball down in the zone, but there will be occasions he will hang it over the middle of the plate.

Castro throws plenty of strikes but there will be times where he lacks fine command of his pitches. He projects to be a part of a deep San Francisco bullpen corps in the upcoming season, but whether he has the stuff to become a full-time closer is still up in the air. His pitch characteristics only work vertically so there will be issues when his stuff is not at its best, but he throws plenty of strikes and he is nicely suited as a late-inning or a fireman in the middle innings like Dominic Leone.