Chicago Cubs: Is Starlin Castro Becoming One of MLB's Top Shortstops?

Starlin Castro's Cubs blew out the New York Mets last night at Wrigley Field, 11-1.

Castro was a huge part of the game, with three hits in five at-bats, a triple and two RBIs.

That performance increased his average to .330, which is the highest for all MLB shortstops. The next closest guy—Mets star shortstop Jose Reyes—is .16 points behind Castro.

Do you see a connection here?

Castro is slowly becoming one of the best NL shortstops—and possibly in the MLB.

The best part is that he is only 21. As Gary Cohen said on last night's SNY broadcast, Castro is young enough to have admired Reyes as his idol growing up in the Dominican Republic.

That's saying something when you can play on the same field, in the same game, at the same position even, as your idol. The only way for this guy to go is up, and I think he's already there with other MLB elite players at his position.

Castro is also tied for fourth in the league in triples and is second in hits. He has seemingly put up huge numbers everywhere, except for home runs.

Is it just me or does his swing and body type mirror those of another NL Dominican shortstop?

Yes, I am thinking of Hanley Ramirez.

Castro is not up to Ramirez's level in power just yet, but he constantly shows signs of it. It also doesn't help he plays half his games every year in a windy stadium like Wrigley Field.

Granted, he does have a couple drawbacks.

Castro isn't a great defensive player yet. He already has nine errors (ouch), which is the second-most in the MLB. He also only has one home run, which isn't very good for 45 games into the season (with about half of them at Wrigley).

Sure, he isn't perfect, but in a few years, the MLB better watch out for Castro as one of the top-five MLB shortstops.