Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Spotlight on Daniel Castano

I have heard a lot of my “baseball friends” here in southern Alabama complain that the Miami Marlins sold off their assets for nothing. They just don’t know what to look for. And also they like the Mets, or the Yankees, or the (shudder) Braves.

When the Miami Marlins traded away Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Dee Gordon, and Marcell Ozuna, it was understood that the new ownership group is building for the future by trading on the present. Regarding the Ozuna trade specifically, I’ve heard people cite three prospects. New Miami Marlins prospects Sandy Alcantara, Magneuris Sierra, and Zac Gallen are ranked second, sixth, and 12th in the system, respectively. Very few have mentioned left-handed pitcher Daniel Castano. That may be about to change.

Castano is a 6’4″, 230 lb. left-handed pitcher from Orlando, FL. In three seasons with Division-I Baylor, he put up an 18-15 record, a 4.20 ERA, and a 1.34 WHIP, with 175 K’s in 218 frames. The St. Louis Cardinals spent their 19th round selection on him. He signed on for a $130,000 bonus. No great shakes at the rookie level, Castano earned a 6.19 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, with seven wild pitches in 48 innings.

Castano settled down in 2017 with the State College Spikes in the NYPL, going 9-3 in 14 starts. He earned a 2.57 ERA and allowed 1.10 WHIP, striking out 81 in 91 innings.

Seven days after trading away Dee Gordon, and three days after trading away Giancarlo Stanton, the Miami Marlins parted ways with Marcell Ozuna. In return, they got three highly rated prospects, along with Castano.

Thank y’all for having me and all the memories! Was a season I’ll never forget 👍🏼 https://t.co/CjvuofQfjk
— Daniel Castano (@Daniel_Casty21) December 14, 2017

Castano has made 15 starts this season through the Miami Marlins system, mostly with the Jupiter Hammerheads. He’s put together a 7-7 record and a 4.88 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP in 79 innings, along with 60 strikeouts. He’s shown signs of turning it on lately though since joining the Greensboro Grasshoppers after a rehab assignment.

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On June 29th, he earned a win by whiffing eight in six shutout innings against the Delmarva Shorebirds. In his next start, a victory over the Lakewood Blueclaws, he K’d seven in seven innings, pitching a quality start for another win. Just last night, he made it three QS’s in a row, striking out eight in seven innings and allowing just two runs on five hits and zero walks. In fact, Castano hasn’t walked a batter in his last 29 innings!

Has Castano turned the corner in his development and turned the strikezone into his weapon? It looks possible. The Miami Marlins added Castano to their 40-man roster on May 1st, so the parent club obviously sees a future with him.

Next: Prospect Watch: Sean Reynolds

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