Rusney Castillo has been dealing with a number of nagging injuries this season, but he has finally been able to get in a rhythm at Triple-A Pawtucket. As a result, Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell hinted at the 27-year-old earning a promotion soon.
Following a surging month of April, the Red Sox offense ranked third in the MLB with 113 runs scored, but May has been a completely different story. The club ranks dead last with 42 runs scored in 17 games this month and are nine behind the Colorado Rockies, who sit one spot ahead of them. For some perspective, the Washington Nationals are in first place with 99 runs scored in 17 games.
The team's struggles, coupled with Castillo's success in Triple-A, prompted revealing comments from Farrell.
"What's taken place is his timing, his ability to impact the baseball is starting to show up a little bit more," he told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "He's returned home [to Miami] obviously for the birth of his child. That's going to be a couple of days. Whether or not we allow him to get a game under his belt at Pawtucket before possibly looking at a change here, those are all possibilities.
"It's good to see him get back on the field. The timing is there. The ability to impact the baseball, so I guess in the short, he's doing what he can to impact a potential change."
In 17 games at Pawtucket the Cuban outfielder is batting .304/.355/.449 with seven runs scored, two home runs and nine RBIs (76 plate appearances). He spent 10 games with the Red Sox in September of last season after signing a seven-year, $72.5 million contract in August, so it's no surprise the club is considering calling him up.
In fact, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe predicted two days ago Castillo's promotion is imminent.
"Rusney Castillo is making his case that he's nearing the end of his 'spring training' phase and could be in position to help the Red Sox in the big leagues in the near future ... he's now played in games on six straight days and 10 of 11," he wrote.
The poor offensive production in Boston's outfield has been particularly glaring. With Hanley Ramirez in the disabled list because of a shoulder injury, the club called up Jackie Bradley Jr. to provide more depth in the outfield, but he has yet to record a hit in 13 plate appearances. Mookie Betts (.227/.291/.390), Shane Victorino (.212/.349/.308) and Brock Holt (.307/.381/.440) have gotten most of the time in the outfield this month and it clearly hasn't been enough for the Red Sox.
Boston has also been batting .197 against left-handed pitching and Castillo would be able to help with that. His two home runs this season have come against lefties and Speier notes he's been having strong at-bats against southpaws as well (even though is slash line is better against righties).
Keep an eye out for Castillo to make his 2015 debut in the very near future.
