Video: Eiberson Castellano Highlights (2024 Minnesota Twins Rule 5 Pick)

[Tom Froemming]

The Minnesota Twins made a selection in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft for the first time since 2017. Right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano joins the org after a breakout 2024 season that ended with him being honored as the Phillies minor league pitcher of the year. Here are highlights of Castellano, a look at some of his numbers and a discussion on where he fits on the Twins roster.

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[ashbury]

Great compilation of videos.  This shows him at his best, as you say, but until they reach the majors that's what you go by with prospects.  Off-speed seems to be his out pitches, less so than simply the high heat, and I'm never sure how well that translates to the majors, but a lot of it is disguising what's coming so perhaps he's got what it takes when facing major league batting eyes too.  He received what looked like a couple of check-swing "gifts" from the umps, and I bet a rookie pitcher doesn't get that same latitude or deference from the guys in blue, but we'll see.

I'm not sure he should be classified as converted from reliever to starter.  My glance through his pitching logs is that the Phils simply treated his arm carefully, with never a pitch count higher than 68 that I could see, but in a manner like a starter would be asked.  Sometimes, those 50-ish pitches wouldn't last longer than a couple of innings if he wasn't going well that day.  In the low minors, I am not sure there is much distinction made about who is on the mound in inning 1 through 3, versus 4 through 6, say - you get your 50-60 pitches of work in, and call it a day.  But in his age-23 season they ramped up his workload, exceeding 50 pitches more consistently.  IOW to my eye the Phillies were bringing him along as a potential starter, not too differently than our own Marco Raya.  (And yes, plenty of people question whether Raya is destined to stick as a starter.)

Long relief should be a comfortable role for Castellano if he sticks.