DIEGO CASTILLO NEWS

Sits after five straight starts Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.

Impact Castillo started each of the past five games and went 4-for-20 with three solo home runs over that stretch, but he benefited in part from lineup regulars Ke'Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz sitting out three and one of those contests, respectively. Both Hayes and Cruz are in the lineup Monday, and with Josh VanMeter (finger) also back from the 10-day injured list and Tucupita Marcano (illness) likely to come off the COVID-19-related IL by the end of the week, the Pirates suddenly have a logjam in the infield. The righty-hitting Castillo is thus likely to find himself as an odd man out for an everyday role, though he may still see steady starts against left-handed pitching.

JUNE 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Power returning Castillo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday against the Rays.

Impact Castillo took Corey Kluber deep in the third inning to record his seventh home run of the season. Castillo did not homer and had only five extra-base hits in a 27-game span between May 8 and June 12, but he has connected for five home runs in his last 10 starts. However, he's still hitting just .171 in that span. For the season, Castillo has maintained a .197/.240/.348 line across 192 plate appearances.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs fifth homer Castillo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Castillo led off the second inning to tally his fifth home run of the season. After going 27 games without a long ball, Castillo has gone yard three times in his last seven starts. He had begun to lose playing time to Hoy Park -- both Park and Castillo were in the lineup with Ke'Bryan Hayes getting a day off Wednesday -- but Castillo could begin to earn back playing time with this strong stretch at the dish.

JUNE 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Losing work to Hoy Park Castillo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs.

Impact On the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Matt Swarmer) for the second straight day, Castillo looks like he'll have to settle for a short-side platoon role for the Pirates, who are giving the lefty-hitting Hoy Park a look at the keystone. Castillo's opportunities could become more scarce within the next week or so, as fellow infielders Kevin Newman (groin) and Josh VanMeter (finger) will start rehab assignments at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday and could be activated from the injured list after playing a few games in the minors.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Won't start Monday Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Pittsburgh called up top prospect Oneil Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier Monday and will have him make his first start with the big club at shortstop, where he'll likely handle an everyday role moving forward. As a result, Castillo no longer has a path to steady playing time at the position, but he could get a look at second base while the likes of Josh VanMeter (finger) and Kevin Newman (groin) are on the shelf. However, it'll be Hoy Park who picks up the start at the keystone Monday after slugging a solo home run in Sunday's 4-3 win.

JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Belts fourth homer Castillo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, a walk and a sacrifice fly in a 7-5 loss to the Giants on Saturday.

Impact The 24-year-old rookie had a nice four-RBI night at the plate, hitting a sacrifice fly off Alex Wood in the first, and then belting a three-run home run off him in the third. The second baseman had been ice cold in June, hitting only .075 over 40 at-bats. He did hit for a respectable average in the minors last year, and he is projected to hit about 30 to 40 points higher than his current .195 average on the season.

JUNE 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Wednesday Castillo isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Impact Castillo went 1-for-19 with a homer, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts over the last seven games, and he'll get a breather during Wednesday's series finale against St. Louis. Hoy Park is starting at shortstop and batting ninth.

JUNE 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Snaps homer drought Castillo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Cardinals.

Impact Castillo opened the scoring in the second inning with his third home run of the season. That ended a 27-game homerless drought, and he's struggled mightily in general during that stretch by hitting just .158 with four RBI and six runs scored. He could be a candidate to lose playing time when either Kevin Newman (groin) returns or Oneil Cruz is recalled, but Castillo remains the Pirates' primary shortstop for the time being.

JUNE 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picking up work at shortstop Castillo will start at shortstop and bat fifth in Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

Impact With Pittsburgh sending Rodolfo Castro back to Triple-A Indianapolis over the weekend, Castillo looks primed to get a look as the team's everyday shortstop. Though he enjoyed a hot start to the season, Castillo has been mired in a deep slump at the plate since the beginning of May, slashing .197/.256/.310 in 26 games dating back to the start of last month.

JUNE 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Saturday's lineup Castillo isn't starting Saturday against Arizona.

Impact Castillo started in the last five games but went just 1-for-16 with a run, three walks and seven strikeouts. Rodolfo Castro will shift to shortstop while Tucupita Marcano starts at second base.

JUNE 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Monday Castillo isn't starting Monday against the Cubs.

Impact Castillo has gone 1-for-5 with an RBI and a strikeout over his last two games, and he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last five matchups. Rodolfo Castro will shift to shortstop while Michael Chavis starts at second base.

MAY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Impact Castillo is 1-for-12 with an RBI and a run over his past four games and will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Rodolfo Castro and Josh VanMeter will start in the middle infield for Pittsburgh.

MAY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Thursday Castillo isn't starting Thursday against the Reds.

Impact Castillo started in the last seven games and hit .200 with a home run, a double, two runs and an RBI. Rodolfo Castro will start at shortstop while Josh VanMeter takes over at second base.

MAY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs second homer Castillo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Reds.

Impact Castillo was in the lineup for both of Saturday's games, but his damage came in the first inning of the latter contest when he took Phillip Diehl yard for his second homer of the season. Castillo has earned a near everyday role in Pittsburgh, thanks in large part to his defensive versatility. He hasn't had an inspiring start to the season by maintaining a .254/.282/.358 line across 63 plate appearances, though he has only a 19.7 percent strikeout rate.

MAY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting matinee Castillo isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Impact Castillo will be out of the lineup for a second straight matchup after he went 3-for-13 with two RBI, a run, a walk and two strikeouts over the last five games. Jack Suwinski will start in right field and bat seventh.

MAY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Sunday's lineup Castillo is not in the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.

Impact The 24-year-old started the past four games at shortstop in place of an injured Kevin Newman (groin), but he'll take a seat Sunday with Cole Tucker receiving a look after being activated from the COVID-19 injured list Saturday. Castillo should continue to have an increased role at shortstop until Newman is healthy, but the return of Tucker figures to cut into his playing time a bit.

MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Leading off versus lefty Castillo will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Castillo had made each of his last three starts in right field, but he looks as though he could get an extended trial as the Pirates' everyday shortstop after Kevin Newman was diagnosed Wednesday with a groin injury that's expected to sideline him for 3-to-5 weeks. Though he's receiving the leadoff assignment Wednesday against Brewers lefty Aaron Ashby, the righty-hitting Castillo is expected to slot closer to the middle or bottom of the lineup versus right-handed pitching.

APRIL 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Tuesday's lineup Castillo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Brewers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Castillo started the past two games in right field and will take a seat after going 1-for-8 with a run and a stolen base. Jack Suwinski, who was called up from Double-A Altoona on Tuesday, will make his MLB debut against Milwaukee in right field.

APRIL 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Bats leadoff, manning right field Castillo will bat leadoff and start in right field Sunday against the Cubs.

Impact The 24-year-old will start in right field the second straight game and could see increased time there moving forward after the Pirates designated Anthony Alford for assignment. It's also the first time batting leadoff for Castillo, who has a .250/.250/.361 slash line with one home run, three RBI and four runs through his first 10 big-league games.

APRIL 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Back to bench versus righty Castillo is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.

Impact The righty-hitting Castillo had started at either second base or shortstop in each of the past four games, though the Pirates opposed southpaw starting pitchers in the latter three contests. Castillo recorded an RBI in each of those last three games and looks to have secured a regular spot in the lineup versus lefties, but he'll be back on the bench Tuesday with the Brewers bringing right-hander Corbin Burnes to the hill.

APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Socks first big-league homer Castillo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Brewers.

Impact The rookie infielder took Eric Lauer deep in the top of the fourth inning for his first long ball in the majors. Castillo has been seeing most of his action at second base, and the 24-year-old is batting .310 (9-for-29) through his first eight big-league games as he auditions to potentially be the future double play partner for Oneil Cruz.

APRIL 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

In lineup against lefties Castillo went 1-for-4 in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs.

Impact Castillo was in the lineup for the second consecutive game, playing second base while hitting fifth. Though he has not carried over his powerful performance during spring training, Castillo has five hits across his first 13 at-bats. Despite that promising start to his big-league career, Castillo appears to be on the short-side of a platoon with Hoy Park at second base for the time being.

APRIL 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Draws first start Castillo is starting at second base and hitting fifth in Sunday's lineup against the Cardinals, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Castillo entered Thursday's game at third base after Ke'Bryan Hayes was forced to exit. However, Sunday will mark his first career start, and he will patrol second base while hitting fifth. Hoy Park is out of the lineup and has started only one of the team's three games early in the campaign.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hitless during MLB debut Castillo went 0-for-3 with one strikeout in Thursday's loss to the Cardinals.

Impact Castillo replaced Ke'Bryan Hayes, who left in the bottom of the first inning due to cramping in his arm. The injury isn't expected to be serious, but Castillo would be a prime candidate for extra at-bats if Hayes is sidelined for any games.

APRIL 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for Opening Day Castillo is not in the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day contest against the Cardinals.

Impact A strong spring for Castillo earned him an Opening Day call-up despite the fact that he'd only played in 18 Triple-A games. The promotion was perhaps even more surprising given that the Pirates are in no rush to win and didn't call up fellow middle infield prospect Oneil Cruz. Castillo's inclusion apparently doesn't mean he'll have an everyday role, however. Kevin Newman starts at shortstop, while Hoy Park starts at second base. Castillo is a righty while Park bats left-handed, so it's possible a platoon is the plan at the keystone.

APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE