Major League Baseball teams began lining up after hearing Cuban outfielder Yasmani Tomas planned to host a showcase in the Dominican Republic on Sunday. Boston Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo knows the feeling.
Castillo, like Tomas, hosted a showcase before ultimately signing a seven-year, $72.5 million contract with the Red Sox last month. The 27-year-old took the field at the University of Miami’s Mark Light Stadium in front of more than 100 major league scouts from 28 teams on July 26 and did his best to impress.
“I knew there were going to be a lot of teams there, and I knew there was a good chance to make a mark,” Castillo told the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber through a translator Saturday. “But I didn’t see it as my only opportunity to make an impression. There were going to be other chances, too.”
Castillo’s physical tools are undeniable. He’s an excellent athlete with great speed — one glimpse of his incredible physique will lead anyone to believe such is true. The July showcase, however, afforded Castillo an opportunity to show what he’s truly capable of doing on the diamond.
“In the showcase, I really tried to show as much of what you would see in a game as possible,” Castillo told Lauber. “I knew there were going to be situations in BP where there was time to let it fly and drive a ball. But there was also times in BP where it was hit-and-run or hit the ball behind the runner. So I did try my best to simulate game situations as much as I could.”
Castillo’s calm, cool and collected demeanor has followed him to the majors. The slugger, who was Tomas’ teammate in Cuba, doesn’t seem overwhelmed by the bright lights, which bodes well for Boston’s future.
Photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
