GOODYEAR, Arizona – The last time Luis Castillo was the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day starter, he dominated throughout the first half of the season and was selected to his first All-Star team.
The Reds are hoping for an encore.
Manager David Bell named Castillo the Opening Day starter for the second time in his career on Friday afternoon. The St. Louis Cardinals will counter with right-hander Jack Flaherty when the 2021 season begins on April 1 at 4:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.
"It means a lot to him," Bell said. "I know it means a lot to any pitcher, but he's so humble. He was just so happy. I don't know if he was as happy for himself or family and friends. That kind of stuff really means a lot to him. It was fun telling him."
More:Jonathan India shows his power; takeaways from Cincinnati Reds spring loss to Texas Rangers
There won’t be the typical Opening Day festivities around the ballpark – the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade was postponed – but it will be the first time the Reds have played in front of fans at GABP in more than a year. The Reds were approved up to 30% capacity, which amounts to nearly 12,700 fans.
Castillo has looked sharp this spring, yielding three hits and zero runs in five innings while striking out three. Bell said Castillo has been as good as he’s ever seen him this early in camp.
When Bell informed Castillo of the news Thursday afternoon, Castillo hugged the manager and immediately called his family.
"He came into spring training this year very ready to go, very focused, in great shape," Bell said. "His arm looks really close to being ready for the season. He’s just a young pitcher, still, that continues to get better and better in so many ways. He’s just really the full package."
The Reds aligned Castillo’s spring training starts to pitch on a normal five-day schedule through Opening Day. He became an obvious choice when Sonny Gray, last year’s Opening Day starter, announced he would likely miss the first week of the regular season after an MRI showed mid-back muscle soreness.
Bell said the Reds finalized Castillo as their choice Thursday. It wasn't a pressing decision at the start of camp, Bell said, and it gave the team time to make sure Castillo was on track for the start of the season after international travel issues delayed his arrival to Arizona.
"It is very special for me because that is an achievement," Castillo said in Spanish. "It is an achievement. Opening Day, every pitcher wants to have it."
Castillo, the 28-year-old right-hander from Bani, Dominican Republic, was electric in his first career Opening Day start. In 2019 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he allowed two hits and one run across 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight. He puzzles hitters with his changeup, which looks just like his 98-mph fastball except it’s 10 mph slower and drops off the table.
More:Dee Strange-Gordon showing how his speed could impact the Cincinnati Reds' roster
Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, Castillo’s favorite player growing up, called Castillo's changeup "outstanding" and just as good as his was. Castillo has worked on developing a slider, a pitch that could help him take another leap forward in his career.
"He has an opportunity this year by doing exactly what he’s doing right now to get off to a quick start," Bell said. "Just by how ready he came in – like I said, focused really hard this winter to come in in great physical condition – I think that carries over into the mentality and it’s shown."
Castillo ends a six-year streak of separate Opening Day starters: Johnny Cueto (2015), Raisel Iglesias (2016), Scott Feldman (2017), Homer Bailey (2018), Castillo (2019) and Gray (2020). It was the longest stretch of separate Opening Day starters since 2001-06, which started with Pete Harnisch and ended with Aaron Harang.
Source link
