How good is Starlin Castro?

[DivineBovine]

Maybe this could even be posted on transactions. It seems as if many people are very excited about him and don't even want to think of trading this guy.

 

Really?

 

Career numbers:

Minors: .299 average, .342 OBP, .392 SLG.

He tore up the AFL with .376 AVG, and managed to walk 3 times in 101 AB's for a .396 OBP.

 

I know he's only 19, but there's only 1 Ichiro. Everyone else with no power who doesn't walk sucks. And players generally don't learn plate discipline.

 

This guy is way more likely to turn into Ronny Cedeno than Ichiro.

 

Why all the hype?

[Gmoney08]

I think alot of it has to do with the leagues hes playing at and excelling at for his very young age. He has done excellent for being in high A and then double A. Usually you see someone his age in short season ball then low A.

 

So I know you tried to make it seem as his stats arent very good but I'd argue they are very good to excellent for someone his age at the level of competition he has played.

 

Then the other side of the story is his raw talent sets him apart from most shortstops as well. So not only is he performing he also has alot of high end potential.

[Serge]

The big deal is his age. The average player in the FSL last year hit .252/.322/.363. And the average age for a hitter at High A was 22.6. So basically, he played against guys 3 years older than him, hit better than the league average, all while playing a good defensive shortstop. He put up good production when at his age simply holding his own would have been impressive. Then, not only that, at the end of the year he jumped up to AA, hit even better, against players who on average were about 4.5 years older than him(the average age for hitters at AA last year was 24.3). Then of course he continued to kick ass in the AFL. While he hasn't shown a ton in the way of secondary skills yet, he's done well in leagues against guys MUCH older than him, which generally is a good indicator that a prospect is the real deal. Not to mention he has a lot of room for projection. He shouldn't play in the majors yet, for the reasons you pointed out, but he's a very very good prospect.

[toonsterwu]

He has the potential to be very good, but potential is the keyword. Keep in mind that a plus-glove, contact ability shortstop is still a valuable commodity. That said, with his wrists, his balance, he has the chance to develop power. Keep in mind that he's still physically maturing.

 

Will he reach that potential? Only time will tell, but shortstops with elite potential are typically protected, and he has a chance to be an elite shortstop, hence why all the talk about not dealing him.