The Blue Jays released infielder Rodolfo Castro from his minor league contract, as first reflected on the MLB.com transaction tracker. Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports that Castro is pursuing an opportunity with the Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan.
Castro had just signed with Toronto a couple months ago. Rather than try to earn his way into a crowded infield picture as a non-roster invitee, he’ll collect a guaranteed salary and head to Asia for the first time in his career. Castro has played parts of four seasons in the big leagues. The majority of that has come with the Pirates, who traded him to Philadelphia at the 2023 deadline. He made just 14 appearances for the Phils down the stretch and has not played in the leagues within the past two years.
The righty-hitting infielder was in Triple-A when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury in 2024. Philadelphia dropped him from the 40-man roster that offseason. Castro played the entire ’25 season with their top affiliate in Lehigh Valley. He hit .235/.324/.421 with 19 homers and 18 stolen bases. Castro qualified for minor league free agency and would likely have been at Triple-A Buffalo had he not gotten the NPB opportunity.
He went whole hog!
How is Joey Gallo not in Japan or Korea hitting 40 homers and batting 220?
wasn’t he trying to make it as a pitcher recently?
He’s got 40 million reasons.
Yet another guy who came up through the Pirates farm….and showed very little.
Ah, Pittsburgh. Gateway to careers in the orient
Yep. Another pirates legend.
Well, that pretty much seals it: Jays have to be able to sign Tucker now!
Go teach that Ham a lesson
How does one become a Ham Fighter?…is Ham Fighting the minor leagues of Bull Fighting?
Yes finally a Ham Fighters signing.
mmmm…steamed hams