Willi Castro, the versatile Minnesota Twins infielder, has been selected as a replacement for the American League All-Star team. He will be stepping in for Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, who is sidelined due to a sore left hand. Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers will now start in place of Altuve at second base.
Castro, 27, has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Twins this season, showcasing his skills at multiple positions including second base, shortstop, left field, third base, and center field. He has even taken the mound as a pitcher, delivering 1 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings.
Despite his utility role, Castro has proven to be a key player for Minnesota. He has been the team’s starting second baseman since June and filled in admirably for injured players like Carlos Correa at shortstop.
Offensively, Castro is having a standout year, boasting a .268 batting average with a .784 OPS, 22 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 10 stolen bases. As a switch-hitter, he excels against right-handed pitching with a .354 average and a .964 OPS from the left side of the plate. Castro has appeared in all 93 games for the Twins this season.
With Castro’s addition, Minnesota now has two representatives on the AL All-Star team, alongside Correa. Correa has praised Castro as the team’s MVP this season, highlighting his invaluable contributions across the field.
“He plays everywhere. If somebody gets hurt, he replaces them with no problem,” Correa expressed to reporters, including The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. “When you have a guy like that, he makes you so much better as a team. I think we should appreciate him way more than we do already. He’s a real great player.”
After joining the Twins on a minor league deal in 2023, Castro has made a significant impact with his performance on the field. His versatility and strong work ethic have earned him admiration from teammates and coaches alike.
“He’s been wonderful. We talk about Willi all the time,” praised Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “Every person in our clubhouse looks at and admires Willi Castro in a big way.”