Cubs Starlin Castro A Sure Thing?

The hype surrounding the Cubs sure-fire, can’t-miss prospect, Starlin Castro, reminds me much of Brandon Larson.

Larson, at one time, 2001, was all the talk of minor league baseball–a sure-fire, can’t-miss prospect for the Cincinnati Reds.

In 1997 he won MVP honors during the College World Series for the LSU Tigers, then later that year became the Reds first-round pick (14th overall).

By 2001 he reached Triple-A, became an All Star of the International League the following two seasons batting .340 in 2002 and .323 in 2003, a season in which the Reds tabbed Larson as their Minor League Player of the Year.

All this proved little, however, at the big league level with Cincinnati. In parts of four seasons Larson never lived up to the hype. Playing in just 109 games he collectively batted .179 with 8 HR and 37 RBI.

In 2004 the Reds third baseman-of-the-future was released following the season. He then signed with Tampa Bay, was released, and later caught on with Texas, but to no avail–the Rangers released him as well.

I’m not saying because Larson failed Castro will never live up to his billing or that Starlin won’t make the big league club out of Spring Training, either.

But what Larson’s story tells us, however, it that it takes far more than minor league success to make it in the bigs.

Lots of Cubs fans are banking on Castro, 20, becoming Chicago’s shortstop-of-the-future. His golden glove and .302 average have many believing he’s already there–just simply move Theriot to second and let Castro take over.

But sometimes, as was the case with Larson, that progression doesn’t pan out–just ask any Reds fan.

If Castro’s ready for the Cubs this season it’s great news. But being ready and producing are two different things.

The Reds learned this lesson the hard way, and if the Cubs are smart, they’ll wait to invest in Castro once he’s a proven major leaguer and not simply another Brandon Larson.