Fake Teams Fantasy Player of the Day: Cubs Shortstop Starlin Castro

by Ray Guilfoyle on Apr 17, 2025 7:00 AM EDT in Baseball

Cubs shortstop and now leadoff hitter Starlin Castro went 4-5 with a HR, double and 3 RBIs on Saturday night to help the Cubs beat the Rockies 8-3. Castro homered off of Rockies reliever Felipe Paulino, a 3-run shot in the 7th inning to break open a tight game. Castro is now hitting .397-.415-.556 with a HR, 6 RBIs, 12 runs scored and 2 SBs on the season.

Last year, Castro finished his rookie season hitting .300-.347-.408 with 3 HRs, 41 RBIs, 53 runs scored and 10 SBs in 463 at bats. Many will remember Castro's first major league game after being called up last May 7th. Castro went 2-5 with a HR, triple and 6 RBIs.

For fantasy purposes, Castro will provide owners with a .300 BA, possible double digit power, around 60 RBIs, and 15 SBs. My prediction for double digit power may be a stretch this year, but Castro is fast becoming one of the best hitting shortstops in baseball.

I ranked Castro as my 11th best shortstop for 2011, and now that is looking very low. Right now, if I had to re-rank the shortstops, I would rank him around #5 or 6 in all of baseball. Here is what I wrote about Castro on March 8th in my updated shortstop rankings:

11. Starlin Castro, CHC-Castro had a solid rookie season in 2010 hitting 3/53/41/10/.300/.347/.408. Castro may not hit for as much power as the rest of the top shortstops here, but he will hit for a solid BA and could steal 15 bases in 2011. I see a 7/70/55/15/.290 season from Castro in 2011.

I might be a bit low on my BA and runs scored projections, especially now that Castro is leading off.

Note: No Roto Roundup on Sunday

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Comments

Castro

He is just Yunel Escobar with hype.

by dudedudedude on Apr 17, 2025 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Based on?

by jackweiland on Apr 17, 2025 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I was down on Castro

because he had no power, but the bat is really good and the power could develop as he mature.

Ray Guilfoyle
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Apr 17, 2025 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

It's not that he has no power ...

It just isn’t manifesting itself in HRs yet. He’s the youngest player in the big leagues. I think the power will come.

by jackweiland on Apr 17, 2025 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Similar Players

Better real life players than fantasy. A .300 average is great but it’s not as if he excels in the other categories. Both bat leadoff, both have mediocre speed but Farell will let anyone run wild so thats a plus for Escobar, the power isn’t great but has the upside up 10-12. Yunel plays in a better lineup and his defense will keep him in the lineup no matter what. Considering he could have been taken 100 picks later, he was the better choice.

by dudedudedude on Apr 17, 2025 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, for this year?

I’d agree Escobar would be a better value. I think going forward Castro has a chance to be a significantly better hitter. It really all depends on exactly how much power he develops as he ages. I wouldn’t count on 10+ home runs from Castro this year, even as good as he’s been out of the gate.

I think Castro’s biggest concern going forward (for keeper leagues) is his ability to stay at short. If you asked me a year ago, I’d have said he was a candidate to move over to 2B. The fact that the Cubs dealt Hak Ju Lee leads me to believe he can stick at SS though, which would obviously be immense for his fantasy value.

by jackweiland on Apr 17, 2025 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Wouldn't count on Castro long term

Guys like Green, Segura, Franklin, Machado would be better keeper options long term. Of course, whether or not those guys stay at SS is also a giant question but the offensive upside is bigger with those players.

by dudedudedude on Apr 17, 2025 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh

I think you’re underselling Castro’s age relative to league a bit. Not that any of those are bad long-term keeper options, but I’d take Castro over Green at this moment every time. I like Segura a ton, but his move to SS was extremely recent and the jury is out on his D more than the others. Machado is probably the only guy on your list I’d take over Castro long-term, although we could use more pro data on him.

by jackweiland on Apr 17, 2025 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

It's great that he's young

But I don’t like his skillset. I don’t ever see him excelling in one area and while he won’t kill you at SS, that’s not someone you want to spend a top 50-60 pick on.

by dudedudedude on Apr 17, 2025 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

how so?

YE minor league #s: 950 PAs, 297/370/414, 10 HRs, 14/28 SBs.
SC minor league #s: 1098 PAs, 310/362/421, 8 HRs, 51/74 SBs.

Not all that different except for Castro having much more speed, right? Wrong. Yunel was age 22-25 during his minors years, while Castro was 17-20. Castro made it to the majors at age 20, five years before Escobar did—putting up his minor league numbers against much older players, and arriving before he even finished physically maturing. Castro came back from the offseason looking more muscular in both the upper and lower body, and he’ll likely keep getting stronger/faster over the next couple years. Escobar arrived essentially as a finished product.

Cubs envision him as a #3 hitter eventually. I don’t think he’ll have 30 HR power, but regularly going 20/20 (with a stronger average than Escobar) is a significant possibility. Don’t get your point here.

by PrincetonCubs on Apr 17, 2025 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions