Can Starlin Castro Make a Fantasy Impact?
Despite the Cubsโ claims that top prospect Starlin Castro is destined to open the 2010 campaign in Triple-A, fantasy owners have to be taking close notice. Heโs been absolutely raking in Spring Training, and letโs be honest, itโs not like the Cubs are loaded up the middle.ย
The 20-year-old (he turns 20 on March 24) split 2009 between Single & Double-A, posting the following line:
469 At-Bats
.299 Batting Average (140 Hits)
3 Home Runs
49 RBI
56 Runs
28 Stolen Bases
.341 On Base Percentage
.392 Slugging Percentage
.332 Batting Average on Balls in Play
What You Need To Know
Baseball America ranked him as the Cubs No. 1 prospect for 2010, as well as 16th overall.
In regards to his ability at the plate, Baseball America said, โHe has no trouble hitting breaking pitches, usually taking the first one from a pitcher he hasnโt seen before, sizing it up and attacking the next. Though he had just 32 extra-base hits in 2009, Castro has the power potential to double that total once he matures physically.โ
Castro is still developing on the base paths, despite his stolen base total in 09. At Double-A he was just 22-for-33. He needs to be successful on a higher percentage of his attempts to fully maximize his potential.
He was fantastic in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .376 over 101 AB. He still showed little power, with just one home run (as well as five doubles and one triple). He was also 9-for-12 in stolen bases, showing some improvement there (he was also a perfect 6-for-6 at Double-A).
Castro does a fantastic job of making contact, striking out just 12.9 percent of the time in his minor league career. Unfortunately, he doesnโt walk much, at six percent. As he matures, heโll learn how to take pitches instead of simply putting them in play.
Final Thoughts
The Cubs have said Castro will start the season at Triple-A, so fantasy owners outside of keeper leagues should not get too excited quite yet. Even if he is recalled, thereโs no real guarantee that heโs going to be a usable option this season. We know he has not yet developed his power stroke and while the speed is there, itโs still a question mark.
If he is not hitting atop the lineup, how much would the Cubs even let him run?
Heโs an elite prospect, and in a year or two heโs likely to be an extremely usable option in all formats. For now, heโs best left for keeper league owners until further notice.
What are your thoughts? Is Castro a player you think will have value in 2010? How good could he be?
If you would like to see aย free previewย of the Rotoprofessor 2010 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide (available for just $5) now including a Top 50 Prospects for 2010 List, click here.
For more looks at prospects, you can check out the following articles:
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