Willi Castro

Castro has the best season of his career as he became a solid utility player and a surprising source of stolen bases. After Castro was non-tendered by Detroit he had to settle for a minor league deal with the Twins and wasn't a sure bet to win a major league job. Castro got regular duty at third base in May when Jose Miranda struggled and hit .274 with a .780 OPS and 10 steals in the first two months of the season. He also became the backup center fielder when Byron Buxton was unable to play in the field. Castro gained manager Rocco Baldelli's confidence on the basepaths and went 33 for 38 in steal attempts. Castro drew more walks (8.3% BB%) and made harder contact (career-high 31.9% Hard Hit rate), but most of his underlying metrics were similar to his underwhelming 2022 season. A full-season career-high .328 BABIP may have indicated he was a bit lucky. However, Castro's versatility to be a plus glove around the infield and use his speed to be adequate in the outfield should help him carve out a steady role. Read Past Outlooks