ST. LOUIS – When people watch Luis Castillo, they see a dominant pitcher in his prime. He possesses a 99-mph fastball. He has a changeup that rates among the best in the game. He can shut down any lineup.
It’s the things that people don’t see is what Castillo’s teammates and coaches love about him.
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“He doesn’t skip anything,” Reds pitcher Mike Minor said. “He doesn’t show up late anywhere. He’s always on time, always does his work. He’s very consistent. Obviously, he’s talented, but sometimes people get a little lazy if they’re talented like that with the stuff that he has, but he’s not. The consistency every day, doing the same routine.”
After Castillo starred at Yankee Stadium, giving up one run across seven innings after carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning, he was running the stairs the next day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis as a part of his conditioning. There was no taking it easy on a 95-degree day after a long travel day.
He’ll likely pitch an inning in the All-Star Game, but he won’t start a game for another week. Still, he’s the same ol’ Castillo.
“I’ve gotten to know Luis for four years now,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “He’s one of my favorites, and he’ll always be, mainly because of his personality. He just has a great way about him. His presence, his smile. He’s got a confidence about him, but he has a humble humility. It’s really important for him to make other people feel good. He’s just a great person to have around. That’s what has impressed me the most.”
Teammates marvel at Castillo’s ability to always remain calm. During his last start versus the Yankees, he was smiling during a 12-pitch battle with Marwin Gonzalez, then he smiled at the umpire after he disagreed with the last pitch being called a ball.
Castillo is a great competitor. Nobody doubts that. But when the stakes are higher, he’s the same guy.
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“Honestly, I don't know how he does that, personally,” Brandon Drury said. “He's a special player, for sure. I think he's just that good where he trusts himself whether he's got his good stuff that day or he doesn't. He knows he's going to find a way to get it done.”
Trade rumors will continue to surround Castillo for the next two weeks. All contenders have interest in adding an arm that can help them in the playoffs.
Castillo, as he’s shown, will remain the same guy.
“Sometimes when you have success early or you’re that good, sometimes you can be lazy or do your own thing maybe,” Minor said. “He doesn’t. He’s eager to learn. He’s eager to be better. And very humble. He’s not looking for anything, anybody to pick him up or shoot him a bunch of compliments all the time. He’s very humble and does all his work.”
Reds prospects: Elly De La Cruz opens eyes at Futures Game
Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz received only one at-bat during Saturday’s MLB Futures Game at Dodger Stadium, but he turned a lot of heads in his first time on a national stage.
People who saw De La Cruz for the first time were amazed by his size. The switch-hitting shortstop, listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, would be one of the tallest players in MLB history if he sticks at that position.
De La Cruz hit seven homers during batting practice, according to Baseball America, showing power from each batter’s box. He entered in the fifth inning of the seven-inning game at third base and flew out to the warning track in left field in his lone at-bat against Toronto Blue Jays prospect Ricky Tiedemann. His flyout produced a 107.4 mph exit velocity, the fourth-hardest batted ball in the game.
Reds pitching prospect Andrew Abbott, a lefty, faced three batters in the top of the seventh inning. He gave up a single on a 0-2 pitch to his first batter before retiring the next two in order, including a strikeout with an elevated fastball.
Abbott reached 94 mph with his fastball in his 11-pitch outing, and he threw a couple of curveballs and one changeup. His curveball produced the second-highest spin rate in the game with a lot of vertical break.
Reds injuries: Pitcher Justin Dunn makes fourth rehab start
Justin Dunn made his fourth start with Triple-A Louisville on his rehab assignment Sunday.
Dunn permitted nine hits and eight runs (three earned) in four innings in Scranton/Wilkes Barre against the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate. He struck out three and walked two.
Most of the damage against Dunn came in a five-run first inning, which was extended by a fielding error.
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