Willi Castro Should Be Celebrated, Even Though Uncertainty Clouds His Gesture's Intentionality

[Cody Schoenmann]

On Jun. 6's Friday night home game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins' utility player Willi Castro sported eye black resembling the Trans Pride Flag, shown below:

Days and weeks after the Friday night game, Castro's gesture gradually garnered national attention, including star actor Pedro Pascal posting a picture of Castro on his Instagram story:

Witnessing Castro wear eye black resembling the Trans Pride flag (the night before Pride Day at Target Field, nevertheless) was a welcomed sight, especially considering the national shift against trans rights from both major political parties. However, when asked about his gesture, Castro stated he was unaware of the implications of the color scheme. Now, we can all maintain our personal opinions of the honesty of that claim (and trust me, I have many). Yet, just as we should accept people for who they tell us they are, we should accept Castro's explanation as what he prefers to present to the world and respect his choice.

The real issue (or predicament, if you will) here is not what Castro knew or intended, nor what he chose to say or not say. Instead, this incident perfectly embodies people's preferred mode of operation these days in that it's more about what we all saw and felt rather than what Castro actually did. A mere decade ago, Pride (and the notion of LGBTQIA+ rights) had become widely normalized, most notably proven by the United States Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states; acceptance was spreading, and equity was gaining a foothold.

What this tea-kettle maelstrom exposes is how desperate people from the trans community now feel, all over again, for even a semi-visible, notable ally. It's about the fact that the question of many people's basic humanity and right to exist on the same terms as everyone else has been unjustly brought back to the table as if it's a valid thing to question. If you felt seen and supported by Castro, that makes us here at Twins Daily very happy. We hope you still do, and we hope you feel seen and supported here as well.

Twins Territory doesn't know Castro's intentions and won't attribute any advocacy to him that he declined to claim. Mostly, we hope that one day we can return to celebrating diversity and identity during festivals like Pride rather than worrying that MLB will eliminate Pride Day at the park altogether or that those outside the league will make it an annual source of controversy. Trans rights are human rights, and if Castro's eyeblack meant something positive to you, let it continue to do so. That said, athletes cannot affect all the cultural and policy change we need right now, so don't count too heavily on Castro or any athlete being an activist, even if his advocacy would be a welcomed development at a time when the masses appear to be spiraling down a regressive direction.

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[Mark G]

I can only speak for myself, and I never intend to offend, but I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak.  Why you chose this forum for this subject is not only confounding, but disappointing.  I will part now and leave it to others to decide.  Take care, TD folks.  

[Doctor Wu]

Interesting idea for a post, and I applaud you for writing it. I have no idea what Castro's intention was, nor am I overly concerned about what sort of reaction or criticism of what he did happened. Let the man play ball. But I think we all need to be careful about the terminology and the way we talk about these issues. You wrote:

Trans rights are human rights

I would agree with that, but I also think it's not accurate to lump gay/lesbian/bisexual people into a "trans" category. Totally different things. Too many people are lumping all these sexual variances into the same bag, and I don't think that's accurate or fair. Yes, it's a slippery slope, and you need to have a good grip to navigate these acronym mazes. That said, I think it's still fair to talk about these issues, especially when it comes to the acceptance of differences in human behavior. Other matters, such as the "promotion" of Pride Month by MLB teams, are perhaps a separate issue. But if a player wants to show support for any sort of cause or issue, that's fine with me. 

[Matthew Trueblood]

4 minutes ago, Mark G said:

I can only speak for myself, and I never intend to offend, but I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak.  Why you chose this forum for this subject is not only confounding, but disappointing.  I will part now and leave it to others to decide.  Take care, TD folks.  

Appreciate the respectful approach here, Mark. Speaking as the editor who gave Cody's piece the green light, the reason we did so is this: While we DO hope to provide readers with a respite from the thornier aspects of life on a daily basis, we also believe that baseball is enmeshed with the world around it. Sports and society are in constant interaction and conversation, and while sports are important for their own sake (i.e., we spend 80% or more of our time focused only on what's contributing to wins and losses, who's doing something interesting, what prospects are coming), it does a disservice to all of us if we refuse to acknowledge the times when the real world sweeps in through Gate 34 and perches somewhere in Target Field.

It might make some uncomfortable, but what Cody wrote was an appropriate message about the community response to Castro's eye black and why that response was so strong. It was worth making clear why so many feelings were stirred up by the mere colors of a player's fashion choice. We're not going to pivot toward writing about social issues instead of baseball, but there will continue to be the occasional piece that nods to and comments on important intersections between baseball and the wider world.

[JDubs]

Trans rights are human rights. As the bard says, if you disagree -- fix your heart or die.

[ladrossetwin]

While I come to this site for baseball info, I appreciate news about the players humanity, I missed the significance of Castro's eyeblack until this article.

[NYCTK]

38 minutes ago, ladrossetwin said:

While I come to this site for baseball info, I appreciate news about the players humanity, I missed the significance of Castro's eyeblack until this article.

I had seen the colors, and immediately connected the dots, but haven't heard he denied any significance to it. 

Given the vindictive nature of this particular federal government, that's probably wise but I don't believe him for a second. 

[nclahammer]

Very well written article.  There are times when politics and sports cross one another's borders, and when that happens, I hope it can be done in the respectful, humane manner Cody did with this story.  Trans rights are human rights.   We're all part of the same race...the human race.  As long as you're kind/respectful to others, it's frankly none of my business (or anyone elses) who you decide to marry, the gender you embrace, etc.  People are people and kindness is free.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

I can only speak for myself, and I never intend to offend, but I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak.  Why you chose this forum for this subject is not only confounding, but disappointing.  I will part now and leave it to others to decide.  Take care, TD folks.  

Everything is connected. I'm sorry you're hurt but that's your own response and your own doing. Maybe people who are 'actually' being hurt (Red Corn sayeth) by others deserve a voice, and need to have that voice be heard by others outside their own circles. 

[Hollywood42]

1 minute ago, nclahammer said:

Very well written article.  There are times when politics and sports cross one another's borders, and when that happens, I hope it can be done in the respectful, humane manner Cody did with this story.  Trans rights are human rights.   We're all part of the same race...the human race.  As long as you're kind/respectful to others, it's frankly none of my business who you decide to marry, the gender you embrace, etc.  People are people and kindness is free.

It's as easy as that, folks.

[Linus]

We are all human beings that deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. It’s that simple. 

[TwinsDr2021]

1 hour ago, JDubs said:

Trans rights are human rights. As the bard says, if you disagree -- fix your heart or die.

What does this even mean? I agree Trans people should have ALL the same rights as everybody else, be respected and not discriminated against for being Trans. But I can also believe women/girls shouldn't have to pay the price for that. 

I can be happy for Willi for doing wearing this, back trans people's right and still disagree about Trans girls in girls sports. 

Does this mean I should die? Do I have a problem with my heart? 

[NYCTK]

6 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

But I can also believe women/girls shouldn't have to pay the price for that. 

Trans women in sports is such a tiny issue, I can't believe some people actually voted in the presidential election based on it. 

It's no less ridiculous than a campaign of banning the daughters of pro wrestlers from competing in athletics. 

[Andrew Bryz-Gornia]

2 hours ago, Mark G said:

I can only speak for myself, and I never intend to offend, but I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak.  Why you chose this forum for this subject is not only confounding, but disappointing.  I will part now and leave it to others to decide.  Take care, TD folks.  

ICE just tried to enter a Dodgers game yesterday. We celebrate the military at every Twins home game. Politics and sports are intertwined whether or not you like it. 

[NYCTK]

5 minutes ago, Andrew Bryz-Gornia said:

ICE just tried to enter a Dodgers game yesterday. We celebrate the military at every Twins home game. Politics and sports are intertwined whether or not you like it. 

ICE claims they were never there. But it's important to remember that cops lie all the time and no one should ever believe what they say. 

[TwinsDr2021]

2 hours ago, Matthew Trueblood said:

Appreciate the respectful approach here, Mark. Speaking as the editor who gave Cody's piece the green light, the reason we did so is this: While we DO hope to provide readers with a respite from the thornier aspects of life on a daily basis, we also believe that baseball is enmeshed with the world around it. Sports and society are in constant interaction and conversation, and while sports are important for their own sake (i.e., we spend 80% or more of our time focused only on what's contributing to wins and losses, who's doing something interesting, what prospects are coming), it does a disservice to all of us if we refuse to acknowledge the times when the real world sweeps in through Gate 34 and perches somewhere in Target Field.

It might make some uncomfortable, but what Cody wrote was an appropriate message about the community response to Castro's eye black and why that response was so strong. It was worth making clear why so many feelings were stirred up by the mere colors of a player's fashion choice. We're not going to pivot toward writing about social issues instead of baseball, but there will continue to be the occasional piece that nods to and comments on important intersections between baseball and the wider world.

I am confused about the point of the article (I have read multiple times) , is the point that he wore it but won't comment on it because of the current culture? Was it a way to get an article in during pride on the progress that has been made but still a ways to go? Is it a virtue signalling? all contentious parts/details on why we are where we are today were left out (probably a good thing). Or is it just an editorial article, because this sentence screams that - "That said, athletes cannot effect all the cultural and policy change we need right now" but again left out what policies the author believes needs to change? 

 

[Western SD Fan]

3 hours ago, Mark G said:

I can only speak for myself, and I never intend to offend, but I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak.  Why you chose this forum for this subject is not only confounding, but disappointing.  I will part now and leave it to others to decide.  Take care, TD folks.  

I'll be the second person that will help take the arrows off your back.  I had hoped we had learned our lesson from the last article that dabbled into politics.  We are only 12 comments in and already sliding off the rails with intention of the article and starting to call out other TD members.  I do believe the article was well written for the subject matter.  Like @Mark G, I watch Twins games and interact with this forum as a way to release from the stresses of daily life in a common space where we all have a common goal:  to watch the Twins win and lament when they don't.  As for what the Twins promoters do with their promotions, be it Pride Day, Faith Day, Military Appreciation Day, Pablo Day, etc., are all promotions to try to get fans into the seats and those don't affect me in terms of watching the game and cheering on the Twins.  Finally, thank you for the people who keep up this forum as a way for all of us to discuss the Twins.  Like @Mark G, take care everyone!

Edited June 20, 2025 by Western SD Fan
added last sentence

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I am confused about the point of the article (I have read multiple times) , is the point that he wore it but won't comment on it because of the current culture? Was it a way to get an article in during pride on the progress that has been made but still a ways to go? Is it a virtue signalling? all contentious parts/details on why we are where we are today were left out (probably a good thing). Or is it just an editorial article, because this sentence screams that - "That said, athletes cannot effect all the cultural and policy change we need right now" but again left out what policies the author believes needs to change? 

 

Incredibly fair criticism. I said this in the last political post, also by Cody! If you're going to discuss politics you should only do so with the passion that you have for it. Not as a mealy mouthed, signaling post that's trying not to ruffle any feathers. 

We all know WHY people are hesitant to discuss politics, or even forbid it. But that sort of attitude only pushes the discussions to the fringes where they become radicalized and completely unproductive. 

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

We are only 12 comments in and already sliding off the rails with intention of the article and starting to call out other TD members.

Ironically, you commented and said nothing relating to the article. 

If you truly only wanted to come here to read baseball news and commentary, you wouldn't have clicked on this article or read the comments. Methinks you'd not have left this sort of comment if it was more aligned with your personal politics. 

[Western SD Fan]

9 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Ironically, you commented and said nothing relating to the article. 

If you truly only wanted to come here to read baseball news and commentary, you wouldn't have clicked on this article or read the comments. Methinks you'd not have left this sort of comment if it was more aligned with your personal politics. 

I'll make it quite clear on discussing the article.  I don't care what Willi did or did not do or what Willi was or was not trying to support.  What Willi supports is up to Willi and what he is willing to discuss and what he believes in is all up him and we should not surmise what his intentions were.  I care that Willi went 2-5 and played good defense enroute to a Twins win.  I care if Willi may end up being traded at the deadline if the team doesn't turn it around in the next month.  You don't know what my personal politics are.  I could be the most supportive person and still do not want politics/social issues on a sports-centric forum.

As for clicking and commenting on the article, I am a voracious reader of articles on this forum and typically read all of the articles that are put out and comment on most of them.  I've been fairly consistent that I do not desire political views/social dynamics leaking into this forum.  I was consistent on the previous article and will be consistent on this one.

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

I care that Willi went 2-5 and played good defense enroute to a Twins win.

He had a good game! Great to see. 

3 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

I could be the most supportive person and still do not want politics/social issues on a sports-centric forum.

Absolutely possible, but 9 times out of 10 people who make this complaint we know exactly why they are making the complaint. 

4 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

As for clicking and commenting on the article, I am a voracious reader of articles on this forum and typically read all of the articles that are put out and comment on most of them.  I've been fairly consistent that I do not desire political views/social dynamics leaking into this forum.  I was consistent on the previous article and will be consistent on this one.

Again, ironically, you clicking and commenting under the article that you don't wish to see will only make it more likely that this content is duplicated. 

I'm just saying, people need to learn how to just click away instead of complaining about every thing. 

Anyways, Happy Pride Month! 

[FargoFanMan]

31 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Ironically, you commented and said nothing relating to the article. 

If you truly only wanted to come here to read baseball news and commentary, you wouldn't have clicked on this article or read the comments. Methinks you'd not have left this sort of comment if it was more aligned with your personal politics. 

That’s all most of us want to do here is read about baseball. Others want to ridicule and some are in the middle. Btw, did anyone ask what Willi Castro thought? What was his intent? If it was truly to support “Pride” and the pride day was the next day then why didn’t he wear that “eye black” the next day? Of course the writer didn’t ask. Probably made no attempt to. Instead he just assumed what it was cause it supports a narrative that’s near and dear to him. What if it supported his children’s birthday? Or it was his mother’s favorite color on a special day for her? What if it’s the colors of a flag that’s special? What if it’s his and his wife’s favorite colors on their anniversary? What if those colors represent any myriad of possibilities? Instead the writer made it about something he cares about and Willi Castro just happened to fit the bill. We don’t know why he chose those colors. The writer doesn’t either. It just fit a narrative. Good, bad, right or wrong. Perhaps the writer knew that this would spark controversy as he’s done it before and probably won’t be the last. It involves Willi Castro who is a Twins player and the Twins are a MLB team. That’s the only connection to baseball. 

 

[NYCTK]

8 minutes ago, FargoFanMan said:

Btw, did anyone ask what Willi Castro thought? What was his intent?

Seems like you didn't even make it to the second paragraph of the post. Kind of proves my point.

Willi Castro did something that drew national attention and you're confused why any Twins fan might think it topical. 

It's really, really easy NOT to click on a link if you don't like the headline. 

Happy Pride BTW

 

[Western SD Fan]

28 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Anyways, Happy Pride Month! 

Happy Pride Month!!

[JDubs]

4 hours ago, Mark G said:

I come here to escape the political/social divisive stuff and just toss the ball around, so to speak

You must absolutely hate the military flyovers, military appreciation day, the camo caps, and all of those other highly-politicized symbols. But weirdly, I haven't seen you make that anger know here -- why is that?

[Western SD Fan]

35 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Again, ironically, you clicking and commenting under the article that you don't wish to see will only make it more likely that this content is duplicated. 

I'm just saying, people need to learn how to just click away instead of complaining about every thing. 

Sorry, I got ahead of myself.  There are plenty of comments on this forum complaining about the 50th article blaming Rocco for screwing the game up, the 22nd article about how horrible of owners the Pohlads are and when they are going to sell the team, the 18th article about why they haven't sold the team yet or the 32nd article on whether Royce Lewis will ever be healthy enough to contribute on a regular basis to the team (fwiw, I made the numbers up and did not got back and count).  Everyone gets an opinion on what articles are being written and to discuss such articles, which is what the comment section is intended for.  Sometimes, it's necessary to make a point that the juice is not worth the squeeze, or in this case, try to point it back towards baseball.

Edited June 20, 2025 by Western SD Fan
Hit submit before I finished the post.

[Cody Schoenmann]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

What does this even mean? I agree Trans people should have ALL the same rights as everybody else, be respected and not discriminated against for being Trans. But I can also believe women/girls shouldn't have to pay the price for that. 

I can be happy for Willi for doing wearing this, back trans people's right and still disagree about Trans girls in girls sports. 

Does this mean I should die? Do I have a problem with my heart? 

For context:

 

[NYCTK]

24 minutes ago, Western SD Fan said:

Sorry, I got ahead of myself.  There are plenty of comments on this forum complaining about the 50th article blaming Rocco for screwing the game up, the 22nd article about how horrible of owners the Pohlads are and when they are going to sell the team, the 18th article about why they haven't sold the team yet or the 32nd article on whether Royce Lewis will ever be healthy enough to contribute on a regular basis to the team (fwiw, I made the numbers up and did not got back and count).  Everyone gets an opinion on what articles are being written and to discuss such articles, which is what the comment section is intended for.  Sometimes, it's necessary to make a point that the juice is not worth the squeeze, or in this case, try to point it back towards baseball.

But it's important to remember that clicks are good for content creators. Even if your intent on clicking something is to express your displeasure, the metrics view that as attention, and attention is good. 

I think this site posts too many articles, but I try not to click or comment on the ones that are of no interest to me. For example, I love prospects, but I think daily minor league summaries are overkill and actually feed this unhealthy hype surrounding these kids. Those 32 Royce articles on the other hand? I love them. I eat them up like they're candy. As do most everyone else, which is why they keep getting written. 

Vote with your clicks. 

[Possumlad]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Trans women in sports is such a tiny issue, I can't believe some people actually voted in the presidential election based on it. 

It's no less ridiculous than a campaign of banning the daughters of pro wrestlers from competing in athletics. 

It's not a tiny issue, because (maybe more than any other sub-issue) it informs & frames the most important dynamics of the conversation on trans "rights."

After all, what does it mean for trans people to have "rights?" Most people--at least the ones I know--agree that trans people should & do have the same basic sets of right that other Americans do. Free speech, free association, freedom of religion, due process, etc. (Yes, I understand that there are some people who wouldn't agree even on this... but setting them aside).

But there's another extended set of "rights" that many argue passionately about (and for), which is the "right" of transitioned/transitioning people to exist and participate fully in the spaces & activities reserved for one gender or another. Some feel that once someone identifies with a gender identity, they are that gender in a broader & more absolute sense, and are entitled to participation in all those demarcated spaces (such as women's sports, women's healthcare discussions, etc.). Some disagree, and it's an extremely important distinction.

This is the reason much of the sloganeering is oriented towards language like "Trans Women are Women," and why the question of "trans women in sports" is such an important one despite being relatively insignificant in practice.

[TwinsDr2021]

1 hour ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

For context:

 

Got it, so it is a super divisive movie/TV quote to shut down the conversation. Not unlike others might say on the other side of the issue to shoot down constructive conversations.

TD is a wonderful place for things like this to be said /s