How Willi Castro is Back in All-Star Form, Propping Up Struggling Twins Lineup - Caretaker Exclusive

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Erik Williams-Imagn Images

We've never seen Willi Castro quite like this. Even last year, en route to his first-ever All-Star Game, he wasn't producing the way he's done it this season. In 197 plate appearances, Castro is batting .290/.365/.483, with seven home runs. More impressively, perhaps, a bunch of that production has come against left-handed pitchers, while batting righty. The switch-hitting Castro had just a .242/.288/.386 line against lefties last year, but this year, that line is .327/.351/.618. Three of Castro's homers have been off southpaws.

That's been thanks to a big spike in average bat speed from the right side, from 71.9 miles per hour in 2024 to 74.2 mph this season. This year's number is the kind of bat speed that generates plus power, something Castro has never shown from the right side—until now. The sudden surge gives him a greater margin for error; it's easier for him to be on time and the ball jumps off the bat more when he makes contact.

"I think I'm more prepared on the fastball. Just be on the fastball the whole time, and I just react to the other things," Castro said Thursday at Target Field. "When you're on the fastball, you know you're not gonna miss it, so you just react. You just trust your ability. When you see a curveball pop up or something, then you'll react a bit better."

Part of the difference is that Castro changed his stance this year, especially from the right side. By standing a bit more upright with his feet closer together, he's effectively working from deeper in the batter's box, giving him more time to react to the pitch. His stride length hasn't materially changed, but he's much better able to generate late torque in his swing, because his weight is beneath him. Here's where Castro set up (and how his stride worked) from the right side in 2024.

Compare that to 2025, and you can see the magnitude of his changes.

By moving off the plate slightly, he's given himself more room to operate. Castro says much of the increase in bat speed traces to a greater sense of aggressiveness, though, rather than any major mechanical change. 

"I didn't really work on bat speed. I just worked to try to be more aggressive with the fastball, because I feel like last year, it was affecting me from the right side: not being on time, not getting the barrel where I wanted to," he said. "I feel like I was rushing to the ball. I feel like the ball was already on me when I wanted to swing, and I wasn't getting enough good contact, like I am right now. So I set my sight more in front. All the damage happens in the front; you want to catch the ball in front. Nothing happens when you catch the ball back here."

In other words, in Castro's approach, he's gearing up to catch the ball out front more consistently. That's where things get really interesting.

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[DJL44]

He's hitting well. His defense has been better in the past.

[Nashvilletwin]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

He's hitting well. His defense has been better in the past.

Didn’t he just drop a fly ball that cost us a game?  Hit him right in the glove.  Tough play? Yes. But when your team is struggling, that’s a catch that has to be made.  It’s plays just like that one which make the difference in so many games. Right now our opponents are making more of those plays than we are. And that shows in the win-loss columns. 

[Parfigliano]

37 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Didn’t he just drop a fly ball that cost us a game?  Hit him right in the glove.  Tough play? Yes. But when your team is struggling, that’s a catch that has to be made.  It’s plays just like that one which make the difference in so many games. Right now our opponents are making more of those plays than we are. And that shows in the win-loss columns. 

TC opponents are more talented, better prepared, and mentally tougher then TC is.

[stringer bell]

Defensively and on the bases, 2023 was Willi’s best year. I hope his hitting continues, but I miss the guy who stole 33 bases and played above average defense. 

[DocBauer]

His defense, for whatever reason, has slipped in 2025. Hes been better, and hopefully he will be again. I don't believe he's as good of a hitter as he's been the past month, but hes shown previously hes pretty good when healthy. I like the change in approach from the RH side. It makes a lot of sense, especially when that's the side he bats from the least; focus on the FB and out front contact, and then force the pitcher to throw strikes with secondary offerings and adjust. 

I'm a fan, and have been one since he broke through with us a couple years ago. Depending on new ownership, I'd still like to have him for one more year, depending on the sale and the payroll for 2026. While a fan...as most of us are...of Eeles, we're still waiting for an opportunity to see what he can do at the ML level. (He probably would have been up over a month ago had he not had knee surgery this past offseason.

Schobel's step up has been a really nice surprise this season. But right after hitting AAA, he gets hurt. Hopefully he's not out long and has the 2nd half to prove his growth is real, and he might be a factor in 2026. Culpepper and DeBarge are just about ready for a jump to AAA, but it's still unknown if either will be ready for 2026, or at what point.

I see Keaschall as more of a ready to play starter who just needs to get healthy again, though he might play a couple different spots.

Unfortunately, injuries and natural hit and cold streaks, Castro has been a little inconsistent in his Twins tenure. But I like him a lot and would really like to see him back for 2026. Also hoping he continues to produce like he has in the past for the remainder of the year as we really need his help right now.

[Doc Lenz]

3 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Didn’t he just drop a fly ball that cost us a game?  Hit him right in the glove.  Tough play? Yes. But when your team is struggling, that’s a catch that has to be made.  It’s plays just like that one which make the difference in so many games. Right now our opponents are making more of those plays than we are. And that shows in the win-loss columns. 

Add in terrible base running by getting caught in a run down with no outs. Baseball acumen is not his forte. He was an All Star replacement as well.

[h2oface]

Castro's injury replacement have to have a Twin all-star form, which is not to the standards of most all-stars because it was decided he was the best active uninjured Twin available from a team with no one else deserving either comparatively to the rest available in the league and it would be a novelty to pick a utility player...... yes, that all-star form. He's got the gloves, just don't expect all-star defense.

He doesn't have "qualifying" PAs at this point for stats, but he sure has been an asset at the plate. Thankful for that. OPS currently a litte higher than Buxton, and average .290. Could really use more stolen bases (3).

[Parfigliano]

Again our best hitter is a utility player forced into a starting role because the alleged everyday players can't hit and are often injured.