Rikelbin De Castro

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #28 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: De Castro received Toronto’s top bonus in their 2019-20 international signing class when he got $1.2 million at 16 out of the Dominican Republic. De Castro made his pro debut in 2021 in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, where he flashed his athleticism at shortstop with a defensive-minded profile.
  
  Scouting Report: The wiry De Castro draws attention quickly from the way he fields a ground ball. He’s a springy, athletic shortstop with quick-twitch actions. He’s a high-energy player with a quick first step who moves his feet well, with smooth hands and a solid-average arm. He can make acrobatic plays, though like many young shortstops, he will have to cut down on throwing mistakes. An average runner, de Castro has decent plate patience for his age and quick hands, but his lack of strength shows up both in his well below-average power and his inability to maintain his swing.
  
  The Future: De Castro has a chance to develop into a plus defender at shortstop but will need to pack on more strength to develop his offensive game, though he might always be limited to a bottom of the order hitter. He should head to Low-A Dunedin in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #19 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: De Castro received the largest bonus in Toronto's deep 2019 international signing class, signing for $1.2 million. His expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Blue Jays brought him over in the fall for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De Castro is a wiry, thin-boned shortstop with quick-twitch athleticism and slick defensive actions. He's a high-energy player with a quick first step, nimble footwork, smooth hands and good range. His speed and arm strength are average but have a chance to tick up once he puts on strength, especially his throwing given his fast arm speed. The attributes are there for a future plus defender at shortstop, but de Castro is still a skinny teenager who needs to add weight. That holds back the damage he's able to do at the plate right now, but he has quick wrists and a loose, simple swing with a good path. He's not always consistent with his swing mechanics, but he has shown solid bat-to-ball skills so far, with a line-drive approach and gap power.
  
  THE FUTURE: De Castro likely would have debuted in the Dominican Summer League if there was a 2020 season. He may be advanced enough to go to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #18 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The top international signing bonus from the Blue Jays in 2019 went to de Castro, who got $1.2 million at 16 years old out of the Dominican Republic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: A loose, wiry athlete, de Castro quickly draws attention for the way he moves at shortstop. He's a fast-twitch, high-energy defender with clean actions, showing smooth hands, quick footwork and a nose for the ball. He's a potential plus glove at shortstop, with average speed and arm strength that could tick up as he gets stronger. That's especially for his arm given his arm speed. De Castro has a simple, compact stroke from the right side and makes consistent contact, showing good rhythm and timing in the box. It's an approach geared to hit line drives to all fields with occasional gap shots. He should grow into more extra-base thump once he gets stronger, though power doesn't project to be a big part of his game.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Dominican Summer League should be his first step in pro ball.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: De Castro received Toronto’s top bonus in their 2019-20 international signing class when he got $1.2 million at 16 out of the Dominican Republic. De Castro made his pro debut in 2021 in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, where he flashed his athleticism at shortstop with a defensive-minded profile.
  
  Scouting Report: The wiry De Castro draws attention quickly from the way he fields a ground ball. He’s a springy, athletic shortstop with quick-twitch actions. He’s a high-energy player with a quick first step who moves his feet well, with smooth hands and a solid-average arm. He can make acrobatic plays, though like many young shortstops, he will have to cut down on throwing mistakes. An average runner, de Castro has decent plate patience for his age and quick hands, but his lack of strength shows up both in his well below-average power and his inability to maintain his swing.
  
  The Future: De Castro has a chance to develop into a plus defender at shortstop but will need to pack on more strength to develop his offensive game, though he might always be limited to a bottom of the order hitter. He should head to Low-A Dunedin in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: De Castro received the largest bonus in Toronto's deep 2019 international signing class, signing for $1.2 million. His expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Blue Jays brought him over in the fall for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De Castro is a wiry, thin-boned shortstop with quick-twitch athleticism and slick defensive actions. He's a high-energy player with a quick first step, nimble footwork, smooth hands and good range. His speed and arm strength are average but have a chance to tick up once he puts on strength, especially his throwing given his fast arm speed. The attributes are there for a future plus defender at shortstop, but de Castro is still a skinny teenager who needs to add weight. That holds back the damage he's able to do at the plate right now, but he has quick wrists and a loose, simple swing with a good path. He's not always consistent with his swing mechanics, but he has shown solid bat-to-ball skills so far, with a line-drive approach and gap power.
  
  THE FUTURE: De Castro likely would have debuted in the Dominican Summer League if there was a 2020 season. He may be advanced enough to go to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his debut in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: De Castro received the largest bonus in Toronto's deep 2019 international signing class, signing for $1.2 million. His expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Blue Jays brought him over in the fall for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De Castro is a wiry, thin-boned shortstop with quick-twitch athleticism and slick defensive actions. He's a high-energy player with a quick first step, nimble footwork, smooth hands and good range. His speed and arm strength are average but have a chance to tick up once he puts on strength, especially his throwing given his fast arm speed. The attributes are there for a future plus defender at shortstop, but de Castro is still a skinny teenager who needs to add weight. That holds back the damage he's able to do at the plate right now, but he has quick wrists and a loose, simple swing with a good path. He's not always consistent with his swing mechanics, but he has shown solid bat-to-ball skills so far, with a line-drive approach and gap power.
  
  THE FUTURE: De Castro likely would have debuted in the Dominican Summer League if there was a 2020 season. He may be advanced enough to go to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: De Castro received the largest bonus in Toronto's deep 2019 international signing class, signing for $1.2 million. His expected pro debut was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but the Blue Jays brought him over in the fall for instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: De Castro is a wiry, thin-boned shortstop with quick-twitch athleticism and slick defensive actions. He's a high-energy player with a quick first step, nimble footwork, smooth hands and good range. His speed and arm strength are average but have a chance to tick up once he puts on strength, especially his throwing given his fast arm speed. The attributes are there for a future plus defender at shortstop, but de Castro is still a skinny teenager who needs to add weight. That holds back the damage he's able to do at the plate right now, but he has quick wrists and a loose, simple swing with a good path. He's not always consistent with his swing mechanics, but he has shown solid bat-to-ball skills so far, with a line-drive approach and gap power.
  
  THE FUTURE: De Castro likely would have debuted in the Dominican Summer League if there was a 2020 season. He may be advanced enough to go to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for his debut in 2021.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The top international signing bonus from the Blue Jays in 2019 went to de Castro, who got $1.2 million at 16 years old out of the Dominican Republic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: A loose, wiry athlete, de Castro quickly draws attention for the way he moves at shortstop. He's a fast-twitch, high-energy defender with clean actions, showing smooth hands, quick footwork and a nose for the ball. He's a potential plus glove at shortstop, with average speed and arm strength that could tick up as he gets stronger. That's especially for his arm given his arm speed. De Castro has a simple, compact stroke from the right side and makes consistent contact, showing good rhythm and timing in the box. It's an approach geared to hit line drives to all fields with occasional gap shots. He should grow into more extra-base thump once he gets stronger, though power doesn't project to be a big part of his game.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Dominican Summer League should be his first step in pro ball.