Miguel Castro may have arrived at spring training as a longshot to break camp with the Toronto Blue Jays, but it would now be a surprise if he doesn’t crack the opening day roster.
On Thursday, Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged that it would be extremely difficult to keep Castro out of Toronto’s bullpen if his strong spring continues.
“It’s the elephant in the room,” Anthopoulos told Jeff Blair and Stephen Brunt on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “He’s just looked so good. I guess all I’d say at this point is if he continues to perform like this and he was to not make the team and I had my media scrum, I don’t know what I would say as to why he wouldn’t make the team.”
Sportsnet Magazine’s Toronto Blue Jays Special: From the heart of the order to the bottom of the bullpen, we’ve got this team covered in our preview issue. Download it right now on your iOS or Android device, free to Sportsnet ONE subscribers.
“Castro’s been so dominant to this point — we still have the remaining half — but he’s certainly putting himself in an unbelievable position,” Anthopoulos continued.
Castro has pitched in four games this spring, allowing just two hits in 6.2 innings. He has yet to walk a batter while generating four strikeouts with a fastball that has reached 99 mph at times. But setting velocity aside, Castro has commanded the ball to the delight of Blue Jays decision makers.
The 20-year-old right-hander pitched for Toronto’s class A affiliates last year, splitting time between Vancouver, Lansing and Dunedin. He combined to post a 2.69 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 30 walks in 80.1 innings as a starter. If he breaks camp with the Blue Jays this year, he’d join a bullpen that didn’t get any major off-season additions after combining for a disappointing 4.09 ERA in 2014.
Beyond Brett Cecil and Aaron Loup, there aren’t many sure things in Toronto’s bullpen, though Steve Delabar, Wilton Lopez, Colt Hynes, Jeff Francis, Todd Redmond and Chad Jenkins are also among those being considered for roster spots. The Blue Jays are expected to break camp with seven relievers, though Anthopoulos said there’s a chance the club could open the year with an eight-man bullpen.
Aaron Sanchez appears to be headed for the starting rotation, and if Daniel Norris claims the final starting job, Marco Estrada would pitch in relief for Toronto. Roberto Osuna, another top pitching prospect, has also impressed in relief for the Blue Jays this spring, but the club could decide to use him as a starter in the upper minors to further his development.
