WILLI CASTRO NEWS

Bubic scheduled to start as Kansas City hosts Detroit

The Royals are expected to send Kris Bubic to the mound Friday and the Tigers plan to give Wily Peralta the start

JULY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Haase, Tigers win 7th straight, finish sweep of Rangers

Eric Haase hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games by topping the slumping Texas Rangers 7-5

JULY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tigers' Isaac Paredes heads to injured list; Willi Castro returns In five games with the Mud Hens, Castro hit .391 with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs.

JULY 22, 2021 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Recalled, starting Thursday The Tigers recalled Castro from Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. He'll start at second base and bat seventh in the Tigers' series finale against the Rangers.

Impact Castro's stint in the minors lasted just under a week, as he'll get the call back to the big leagues after Isaac Paredes was moved to the injured list with a strained right hip. Prior to suffering the hip injury Monday, Paredes had been filling as the primary second baseman while Niko Goodrum (calf) was on the shelf, but the Tigers will likely now turn to a combination of Castro and Harold Castro to cover the keystone. Prior to his July 16 demotion, Willi Castro slashed .214/.278/.341 with six home runs and four stolen bases across his 280 plate appearances on the season with Detroit.

JULY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Will focus on second at Triple-A Castro will primarily play second base while he's with Triple-A Toledo, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Impact Castro was sent down on Friday due to his struggles in the first half of the season, as he had just a .214/.278/.341 slash line through 74 games. He's also struggled defensively the past few years, and the team had shifted him over to second base more frequently to see if the keystone was a better fit. Castro has 54 appearances at second this season for the Tigers versus only 18 at shortstop. It looks like that type of split should continue at Toledo. If Castro can show progress at the plate and in the field, he will likely be back with the Tigers later in the year.

JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A Castro was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Friday.

Impact Castro entered the All-Star break with a .532 OPS over his past 28 contests, leading to his demotion to Triple-A to open the second half of the season. The 24-year-old posted a .349/.381/.550 slash line in 36 games during 2020, but he's been unable to replicate that performance this year. He could receive another big-league chance down the stretch if he shows some improvements at Toledo, but for now he's out of the mix. Isaac Paredes was recalled in a corresponding move and should fill some of Castro's playing time at the keystone.

JULY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Castro is on the bench for Sunday's series finale against the Twins, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Impact After a third straight hitless performance, Castro has gone 2-for-21 in six July games and is hitting .174 in his last 15 contests dating back to June 19. He's also driven home just three runs in that 46 at-bat span. Harold Castro will start at second base and bat sixth Sunday.

JULY 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back on bench Castro will sit Friday against the Twins.

Impact Castro hasn't been able to come anywhere close to repeating his excellent .349/.381/.550 line from last season, as he's hitting just .215/.279/.340 on the season. That strong 2020 performance came with a .448 BABIP, so it's no surprise to see he's fallen off, but he's been particularly poor over his last 26 games, posting an OPS of just .527. Jonathan Schoop will be the second baseman Friday.

JULY 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jeffers, Sanó hit homers, lead Happ, Twins over Tigers 5-3

Ryan Jeffers and Miguel Sanó homered, leading J

JULY 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Riding pine Wednesday Castro isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Rangers.

Impact Castro went 1-for-7 with an RBI and three strikeouts across the last two games, but he'll get a day off in Wednesday's series finale. Harold Castro will start at second base and bat eighth.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Sunday Castro is not starting Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Impact The 24-year-old went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Saturday and is now hitting .225 in his last 13 games. Harold Castro gets the start at second base Sunday, with Zack Short playing shortstop.

JULY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Friday Castro is starting at second base and batting eighth in Friday's game against the White Sox.

Impact Willi Castro gets the keystone while Harold Castro starts at shortstop. The Tigers have a bit of a crowded middle infield at the moment, with the two Castros in the mix along with Zach Short and Jonathan Schoop. Willi Castro should maintain something of a regular role, though he's struggling a bit offensively (.647 OPS) and could get some days off as Detroit manager A.J. Hinch rotates players into the lineup.

JULY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting matinee Castro isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact Castro went 1-for-9 with two runs, a walk and four strikeouts across the last three games. Harold Castro will shift to second base while Zack Short starts at shortstop.

JUNE 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Castro is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Cleveland, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Impact Castro hasn't done much at the plate all season but has been particularly poor over his last 20 games, hitting just .190/.257/.302. Harold Castro will take over at second base in his absence.

JUNE 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Grossman's 10th-inning squeeze bunt lifts Tigers over Astros

Robbie Grossman’s squeeze bunt in the 10th inning drove in the winning run and the Detroit Tigers won a duel of small ball, beating the Houston Astros 2-1 for a split of their four...

JUNE 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat for matinee Castro isn't starting Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Astros.

Impact Castro had recorded hits in each of his last three games, and he went 4-for-10 with three runs, an RBI, a stolen base and two walks during that time. Isaac Paredes will take over at second base and bat seventh.

JUNE 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Correa leads Astros to 11th straight win, 12-3 over Tigers

Carlos Correa had three hits, walked twice and drove in three runs, helping the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 12-3  to extend their winning streak to 11

JUNE 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches steal Wednesday Castro went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over St. Louis.

Impact The steal was Castro's second in the last three games, but just his third in four attempts through 20 games in June. The infielder is slashing .224/.288/.364 with six home runs, four stolen bases, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored across 237 plate appearances.

JUNE 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Sunday's lineup Castro is not in the lineup Sunday against the Angels, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Impact Castro started the previous eight games and will take a seat after going 6-for-30 with two homers, a double and five RBI during that stretch. Jonathan Schoop will start at the keystone Sunday.

JUNE 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani goes into HR Derby mode as Angels rout Tigers

Shohei Ohtani celebrated his appointment to next month’s All-Star Home Run Derby in fitting style, connecting twice during the Los Angeles Angels’ 11-3 win over the Detroit Tigers

JUNE 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes deep in win Castro went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-5 win over Kansas City.

Impact The 24-year-old has homered twice in Detroit's three-game sweep of Kansas City. Castro is up to six homers, 24 RBI, 25 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases through 217 plate appearances this year. He's sporting a .219/.282/.367 slash line, but he remains a consistent presence in the lower half of the lineup.

JUNE 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Castro HR, Tigers rally for sweep over skidding Royals

Willi Castro homered during a three-run rally in the seventh inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 for a three-game sweep

JUNE 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blasts fifth homer in win Castro went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Monday's 10-3 win over the Royals.

Impact Castro's two-run shot off Brad Keller was his second of June and fifth on the season, leaving him one shy of matching his career-best total from 2020. The 24-year-old maintains hold of an everyday role at second base, but his .643 OPS on the season probably doesn't afford him much job security.

JUNE 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Castro is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.

Impact Castro enters Friday in the midst of a 2-for-18 skid at the plate, so he'll get a chance to reset during the series opener. Jonathan Schoop will slide to second base with Miguel Cabrera manning first base Friday.

JUNE 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Records three hits in losing effort Castro went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 9-8 loss to the White Sox.

Impact Castro reached base in each of his four plate appearances Friday but the Tigers fell just short of completing an epic comeback. The 24-year-old has picked it up recently, slashing .407/.469/.778 over his last nine games. He's struggled overall this season with a slash line of .231/.295/369 with four homers, 19 RBI, 21 runs scored and two stolen bases. That said, he should continue to remain a regular fixture in the lineup as long as he's healthy.

JUNE 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE