Starlin Castro
Encyclopedia
Starlin Dejesus Castro is a Major League Baseball
shortstop
for the Chicago Cubs
.
All-Star team, and won MVP honors, going 4-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run
in the game. He was also named All-Star Futures Game
for the World Team. After the season, Castro was named the best prospect in Chicago's organization by Baseball America
.
, the Cubs double A affiliate. He became the first major league player born in the 1990s
.
In his first major league at bat he hit a three-run home run
off of Homer Bailey
of the Cincinnati Reds
. He became the sixth player in Cubs history and 106th player overall to do so. Later in the game he hit a triple
with the bases loaded
, setting the record for most runs batted in in a major league debut with 6. He finished the game two for five in the Cubs 14 to 7 win. Castro finished the season with a .300/.347/.408 line with three home runs and 41 runs batted in in 463 at bats over 125 games. Despite his significant offensive contribution, Castro led the team and was second in the National League in errors
with 27.
On October 19, 2010 Castro was named the shortstop on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also named the shortstop on the 2010 Topps
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
. He also finished tied for 5th in Rookie of the Year voting.
On September 23, 2011, Castro got hit his 200th base hit of the season at Busch Stadium
against the rival St. Louis Cardinals
, and was the youngest member of the Chicago Cubs
to ever do so.
Castro was the youngest player to ever lead the National League in hits, finishing the feat with his 207th hit of the season on September 28, 2011. Castro's game jersey was sent to the Hall of Fame, in a similar manner to his MLB debut's game jersey. His line for the 2011 season was .307/.341/.432, and it was the first season in which he hit double digit home runs (10).
On defense, he led all major league shortstops in errors, with 29, as he also had the lowest fielding percentage (.961).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Minor Leagues
In 2009, Castro was named to the Florida State LeagueFlorida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star team, and won MVP honors, going 4-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
in the game. He was also named All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
for the World Team. After the season, Castro was named the best prospect in Chicago's organization by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
2010
Castro was called up to the majors for the first time on May 7, 2010 from the Tennessee SmokiesTennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
, the Cubs double A affiliate. He became the first major league player born in the 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
.
In his first major league at bat he hit a three-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
off of Homer Bailey
Homer Bailey
David Dewitt "Homer" Bailey, Jr. is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds....
of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He became the sixth player in Cubs history and 106th player overall to do so. Later in the game he hit a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
with the bases loaded
Bases loaded
In the sport of baseball, the bases are loaded when there is a runner on each base . This presents a great scoring opportunity for the batting team, but it also presents an easy double play opportunity for the defense. Causing the bases to become loaded is called loading the bases...
, setting the record for most runs batted in in a major league debut with 6. He finished the game two for five in the Cubs 14 to 7 win. Castro finished the season with a .300/.347/.408 line with three home runs and 41 runs batted in in 463 at bats over 125 games. Despite his significant offensive contribution, Castro led the team and was second in the National League in errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
with 27.
On October 19, 2010 Castro was named the shortstop on Baseball Americas 2010 All-Rookie Team. He was also named the shortstop on the 2010 Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
Major League Rookie All-Star Team
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
. He also finished tied for 5th in Rookie of the Year voting.
2011
2011 was Castro's first full season as an MLB player, and also marked his first All-Star Game selection, being one of 3 shortstops selected to the National League All-Star team. Castro was the youngest player to make the All-Star Game as a member of the Chicago Cubs. The same day, Castro received Edward Jones Player of the Month Award honors.On September 23, 2011, Castro got hit his 200th base hit of the season at Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
against the rival St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, and was the youngest member of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
to ever do so.
Castro was the youngest player to ever lead the National League in hits, finishing the feat with his 207th hit of the season on September 28, 2011. Castro's game jersey was sent to the Hall of Fame, in a similar manner to his MLB debut's game jersey. His line for the 2011 season was .307/.341/.432, and it was the first season in which he hit double digit home runs (10).
On defense, he led all major league shortstops in errors, with 29, as he also had the lowest fielding percentage (.961).