Earlier today, the Yankees claimed INF/OF Diego Castillo off waivers from the New York Mets.
Castillo, 26, appeared in one game for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023. He spent the majority of the 2023 season with Triple-A Reno, hitting .313 (142-for-454) with 94R, 33 doubles, 1 triple, 3HR, 72RBI, 97BB and 13SB in 124 games. He appeared defensively with Reno in left field (63 games/62 starts), second base (31 games/29 starts), shortstop (24 games/23 starts) and third base (six games/five starts). Following the season, he was named an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com with Arizona.
Over parts of two Major League seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2022) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2023), he has batted .205 (54-for-263) with 28R, 13 doubles, 11HR, 29RBI and 14BB in 97 career games. Castillo has appeared defensively in the Majors at shortstop (32 games/30 starts), second base (28 games/18 starts), right field (22 games/18 starts), first base (seven games/three starts) and third base (four games/one start).
The Barquisimeto, Venezuela, native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2014. Castillo was acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates along with INF Hoy Park in exchange for RHP Clay Holmes on July 26, 2021. He was then acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks from Pittsburgh in exchange for RHP Scott Randall on December 23, 2022. Castillo was designated for assignment by Arizona on December 21, 2023, and claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on January 5, 2024. He was designated for assignment by New York-NL on January 12, 2024.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated INF Jeter Downs for assignment.
