Kervin Castro, RHP
DOB: 2/7/1999
BATS: R  /  THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: International Signings, July 2015
LAST LEVEL: Majors
VOLATILITY: Mild

STATS

Lev
ERA
G
GS
SV
IP
H
R
ER
HR
BB
SO
HBP
WP
WHIP
BB9
SO9
SO/W
2016
AZL Giants
FRk
4.71
13
0
0
21.0
17
14
11
0
12
25
5
8
1.381
5.1
10.7
2.08
2018
AZL Giants
FRk
0.00
1
0
0
1.0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
1.000
9.0
18.0
2.00
2019
Salem-Keizer
A-
2.66
14
14
0
67.2
52
24
20
2
13
61
4
5
0.961
1.7
8.1
4.69
2021
Sacramento
AAA
2.86
30
0
1
44.0
31
14
14
3
22
60
2
3
1.205
4.5
12.3
2.73
2021
SFG
Maj
0.00
10
0
0
13.1
13
1
0
0
4
13
0
0
1.275
2.7
8.8
3.25
Majors (1)
0.00
10
0
0
13.1
13
1
0
0
4
13
0
0
1.275
2.7
8.8
3.25
Minors (4)
3.03
58
14
1
133.2
100
52
45
5
48
148
11
16
1.107
3.2
10.0
3.08

See Full Stats Here

GiantFutures 2022 Ranks: #3 Relief Pitcher, #21 Overall

Performance: Kervin Castro is no stranger to lost seasons.  After being signed in 2016, Castro missed 2017 and almost all of 2018 after having Tommy John surgery.  Castro would come back and have an effective season starting in Short-A Salem-Keizer, before 2020 was also lost.  After looking impressive in training camp in late 2020, the Giants ended up adding him to the 40-man roster, rushing his progress.  And that’s how a Short-A pitcher ended up making his MLB debut his next season.

Castro was moved to relief, where he often took multi-inning stints, pitching 44.0 innings in 30 appearances, and after giving up five earned runs in his first four games. he allowed just nine runs the rest of the way, working his way to a 2.86 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 22 walks.  That prompted the Giants to give Kervin Castro his MLB debut in early September.  While Castro didn’t overwhelm MLB batters, striking out 13 in 13.1 innings, with 13 hits allowed and four walks, he gave up just one unearned runs in his debut.

Strengths and Weaknesses: The 40-man roster push cost Castro a chance at being a starter, but with a mid-90’s fastball that developed over the lost 2020, Castro’s stuff played well in the bullpen.  He pitches up with his fastball and has a low-80’s curve that tunnels well.  He uses a cut fastball to try and keep lefties off-balance, but works well with the two pitch mix.

Castro comes in and pitches in way that is best described as like a bulldog.  Castro attacks the strike zone with average control, and not the best command.  He gives up a fair amount of hits, but when Castro is at his best, the contact isn’t hard.  He did give up three home runs in Sacramento, but two of them were in his first four games at Triple-A.  He doesn’t have the most overwhelming stuff, but he is very effective with it.

2022 Outlook: After a strong finish to the season, the Giants felt good enough about Castro to use him in a big playoff series against the Dodgers, and he didn’t allow a run.  Castro should be an easy bet to start the season in the big leagues.

Future Profile: Castro’s fastball isn’t closer material, but it’s easy to see that Castro will fit into the Giants bullpen in the late-inning mix.  He might be kept as a multi-inning reliever who will back up starters who don’t go deep, rather than a matchup-based setup man.