WILLI CASTRO NEWS

Starting in center field Castro is starting in center field and batting eighth Tuesday in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Astros, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Castro didn't start any of the Twins' first three postseason games but has now been in the lineup for each of the last two after starting in left field in Game 2. He reached base twice and scored a run in that contest. Michael Taylor will begin Game 3 on the bench.

OCTOBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hicks fans Castro, escapes jam | 10/03/2023 Jordan Hicks strikes out Willi Castro looking to escape the 8th inning unscathed and keep the game close for Toronto

OCTOBER 4, 2023 • MLB.COM

Sitting Sunday Castro isn't in the Twins' lineup Sunday against the Angels.

Impact Castro will sit for the second consecutive game after recording five hits in his last three games. His absence will allow Michael Taylor to start in center field while batting ninth.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Castro will hit the bench Saturday against the Angels, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Castro is one of several regulars who will get a rest the day after the Twins clinched a postseason berth. Andrew Stevenson will get the nod in center field.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep in victory Castro went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's 7-0 win over Cincinnati.

Impact Castro reached on an infield single in the fifth inning before hitting a towering, two-run homer in the seventh that extended Minnesota's lead to 6-0. In 15 games since returning from an oblique injury Sept. 3, the switch-hitting speedster has posted a slash line of .291/.333/.545 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs and two steals across 61 plate appearances. Castro has started 14 of 16 games since his return and figures to maintain his everyday role given his positional versatility and the fact that Carlos Correa is once again dealing with plantar fasciitis.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

A HR robbery while clutching a card in your other hand? Incredible! CINCINNATI -- Willi Castro didn’t even have time to put away the little laminated card that tells him where to position himself before he ma...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • MLB.COM

Castro homers, makes pair of spectacular catches to lead Twins over Reds 7-0

Willi Castro hit a two-run homer and made two spectacular catches, Kenta Maeda combined on a four-hitter and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-0 in another step toward...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Willi Castro's homer propels Twins past Rays to even series Willi Castro hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to rally the Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in Mi...

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Willi Castro hits 2-run homer in 7th and Twins top Rays 3-2

Willi Castro hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Homers, tallies three hits Castro went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-4 victory over the Mets.

Impact Castro doubled in the bottom of the second before coming around to score on a Donovan Solano single, making it a 2-2 game. The left fielder then added a solo homer in the eighth to extend Minnesota's lead to four runs, and finished with three hits on the day - his first time accomplishing that feat since July 18. Castro is now batting .471 in September and has recorded multiple hits in three of his last five games.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores twice in starting role Castro went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI in Monday's 20-6 win over the Guardians.

Impact Castro did a little bit of everything for the Twins in the blowout victory, starting in center field before spending two innings at third base and then pitching the final inning of the game. After returning to the Twins' active roster over the weekend following a three-week stay on the injured list due to the oblique strain, Castro could get a look as the team's preferred option in center field in the short term while both Michael Taylor (hamstring) and Byron Buxton (knee) remain on the shelf.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Twins activate Willi Castro, put Michael A. Taylor on IL The Minnesota Twins activated utility player Willi Castro (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Officially reinstated Castro (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Impact The 26-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 12 with an oblique strain but will rejoin the Twins on Sunday after a three-game minor-league rehab assignment. With Michael Taylor landing on the shelf with a hamstring strain, Castro could see regular run in center field for the near future.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set for activation Sunday Castro (oblique) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Rangers, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Things seemed to be trending that way, and a roster spot opened up with Michael Taylor (hamstring) expected to land on the IL. Castro could see playing time in center field while Taylor is out and, of course, is also capable of filling in at multiple other positions.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Could return Sunday Castro (oblique) is expected to join the Twins this weekend in Texas and could be activated Sunday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Impact Castro had been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul but left Wednesday for the birth of his second daughter. It looks like he'll be activated this weekend and will not need any more rehab games. Castro was placed on the injured list Aug. 15.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Return date from IL unclear Castro (oblique) is 2-for-7 in two rehab games at Triple-A Rochester, but it's not clear when he'll be activated from the injured list. Castro's wife is due with the couple's secon...

Impact Castro appears to be ready to return from the injured list, but the Twins may wait to activate him until after his paternity leave or activate him from the injured list and immediately place him on the paternity list in the majors. Either way, his return date is not clear.

AUGUST 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Willi Castro closest to returning among Twins' injured position players Alex Kirilloff is hoping he will be able to be activated after a rehab assignment, but José Miranda is not expected back until 2024.

AUGUST 25, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Beginning assignment Friday Castro (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Castro was placed on the injured list Aug. 15 and is now set to begin the final stage of his recovery. The Twins haven't indicated how long they plan to keep Castro on assignment, but there is a very good chance he returns before the end of August. The 26-year-old utilityman was slashing .235/.323/.383 through 93 plate appearances since the All-Star break prior to getting injured.

AUGUST 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Techno music, disco balls and animal masks: How the Twins celebrate success “I know something was missing and I think we found it," Willi Castro said. "Everybody's having fun together."

AUGUST 19, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Sent to IL with oblique strain Castro was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to August 12, with a mild left oblique strain, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Impact With the move being retroactive, Castro will be eligible to return in a week and the fact that the Twins are referring to the injury as mild suggests he might have a shot to be ready at that time. Castro has put up a .692 OPS with five home runs and 29 stolen bases in a super utility role for Minnesota this season.

AUGUST 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Remains out Sunday Castro (back) isn't in the Twins' lineup Sunday against the Phillies.

Impact Castro was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to back tightness, and his injury will keep him out for another game Sunday. The 26-year-old utilityman will get to take advantage of Minnesota's scheduled day off Monday before potentially returning to the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.

AUGUST 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched with back issue Castro was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies due to lower-back tightness, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Castro had been set to play third base. Jorge Polanco will slide over to the hot corner in Castro's absence, with Edouard Julien taking Polanco's spot at second and Ryan Jeffers joining the lineup to take Julien's vacated designated hitter spot.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes 29th bag Castro went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a steal in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to Detroit.

Impact Castro's now recorded a hit in seven straight games, sporting a .810 OPS over that span. The 26-year-old utilityman has been an unexpected source of speed this season -- he's now 29-for-33 on stolen base attempts, tying him for fifth most in the league, after swiping nine bags in each of his previous two seasons. Castro's positional versatility has afforded him regular at-bats in his first year with the Twins. He's now slashing .247/.329/.380with five homers, 42 runs scored and 26 RBI across 308 plate appearances.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets fifth consecutive start Castro will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Tigers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Though Michael Taylor appears to have wrested the everyday center field role away from Castro, the latter's defensive versatility will allow him to stick in the lineup for the fifth game in a row. Castro has now picked up three starts at third base and two in left field over those five games, contributing two stolen bases during that stretch to bring his total up to a team-high 28 for the season. The 26-year-old looks like he'll remain a mainstay in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, and he should be able to work his way into the starting nine at least semi-regularly versus right-handed pitching, too.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Twins mailbag: Joey Gallo's whiffs, Willi Castro's wheels and Trevor Larnach's future Plus an Alex Kirilloff injury update, Jhoan Duran's velocity, Matt Wallner's world and Brooks Lee moving up.

AUGUST 7, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM