Castro is starting in center field and batting eighth Tuesday in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Astros, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Castro didn't start any of the Twins' first three postseason games but has now been in the lineup for each of the last two after starting in left field in Game 2. He reached base twice and scored a run in that contest. Michael Taylor will begin Game 3 on the bench.
Castro isn't in the Twins' lineup Sunday against the Angels.
Castro will sit for the second consecutive game after recording five hits over his last three games. His absence will allow Michael Taylor to start in center field while batting ninth.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Castro will hit the bench Saturday against the Angels, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Castro is one of several regulars who will get a rest the day after the Twins clinched a postseason berth. Andrew Stevenson will get the nod in center field.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Goes deep in victory
Rotowire
Castro went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's 7-0 win over Cincinnati.
Castro reached on an infield single in the fifth inning before hitting a towering, two-run homer in the seventh that extended Minnesota's lead to 6-0. In 15 games since returning from an oblique injury Sept. 3, the switch-hitting speedster has posted a slash line of .291/.333/.545 with three home runs, seven RBI, 11 runs and two steals across 61 plate appearances. Castro has started 14 of 16 games since his return and figures to maintain his everyday role given his positional versatility and the fact that Carlos Correa is once again dealing with plantar fasciitis.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Homers, tallies three hits
Rotowire
Castro went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 8-4 victory over the Mets.
Castro doubled in the bottom of the second before coming around to score on a Donovan Solano single, making it a 2-2 game. The left fielder then added a solo homer in the eighth to extend Minnesota's lead to four runs, and he finished with three hits on the day -- his first time accomplishing that feat since July 18. Castro is now batting .471 in September and has recorded multiple hits in three of his last five games.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Scores twice in starting role
Rotowire
Castro went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI in Monday's 20-6 win over the Guardians.
Castro did a little bit of everything for the Twins in the blowout victory, starting in center field before spending two innings at third base and then pitching the final inning of the game. After returning to the Twins' active roster over the weekend following a three-week stay on the injured list due to the oblique strain, Castro could get a look as the team's preferred option in center field in the short term while both Michael Taylor (hamstring) and Byron Buxton (knee) remain on the shelf.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Set for activation Sunday
Rotowire
Castro (oblique) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Rangers, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Things seemed to be trending that way, and a roster spot has opened up with Michael Taylor (hamstring) expected to land on the IL. Castro could see playing time in center field while Taylor is out and, of course, is also capable of filling in at multiple other positions.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Officially reinstated
Rotowire
Castro (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
The 26-year-old has been sidelined since Aug. 12 with an oblique strain but will rejoin the Twins on Sunday after a three-game minor-league rehab assignment. With Michael Taylor landing on the shelf with a hamstring strain, Castro could see regular run in center field for the near future.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Could return Sunday
Rotowire
Castro (oblique) is expected to join the Twins this weekend in Texas and could be activated Sunday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Castro had been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul but left Wednesday for the birth of his second daughter. It looks like he'll be activated this weekend and will not need any more rehab games. Castro was placed on the injured list Aug. 15.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Return date from IL unclear
Rotowire
Castro (oblique) is 2-for-7 in two rehab games at Triple-A Rochester, but it's not clear when he'll be activated from the 10-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
From a health standpoint, Castro looks ready to return from the IL, but his wife is due to give birth Wednesday, so he could end up immediately heading to the paternity list if activated Tuesday or Wednesday. With that in mind, Castro may not be cleared to play in games for the Twins until after the roster expands to 28 men Friday.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Beginning assignment Friday
Rotowire
Castro (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Castro was placed on the injured list Aug. 15 and is now set to begin the final stage of his recovery. The Twins haven't indicated how long they plan to keep Castro on assignment, but there's a good chance he returns before the end of August. The 26-year-old utilityman was slashing .235/.323/.383 through 93 plate appearances since the All-Star break prior to getting injured.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Sent to IL with oblique strain
Rotowire
Castro was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a mild left oblique strain, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
With the move being retroactive to Saturday, Castro will be eligible to return in a week and the fact that the Twins are referring to the injury as mild suggests he might have a shot to be ready at that time. Castro has put up a .692 OPS with five home runs and 29 stolen bases in a super utility role for Minnesota this season.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Remains out Sunday
Rotowire
Castro (back) isn't in the Twins' lineup Sunday against the Phillies.
Castro was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to back tightness, and his injury will keep him out for another game Sunday. The 26-year-old utilityman will get to take advantage of Minnesota's scheduled day off Monday before potentially returning to the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Scratched with back issue
Rotowire
Castro was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Phillies due to lower-back tightness, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Castro had been set to play third base. Jorge Polanco will slide over to the hot corner in Castro's absence, with Edouard Julien taking Polanco's spot at second and Ryan Jeffers joining the lineup to take Julien's vacated designated hitter spot.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Swipes 29th bag
Rotowire
Castro went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a steal in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to Detroit.
Castro's now recorded exactly one hit in seven straight games, sporting a .810 OPS over that span. The 26-year-old utilityman has been an unexpected source of speed this season -- he's now 29-for-33 on stolen base attempts, tying him for fifth most in the league, after swiping nine bags in each of his previous two seasons. Castro's positional versatility has afforded him regular at-bats in his first year with the Twins. He's now slashing .247/.329/.380with five homers, 42 runs scored and 26 RBI across 308 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Gets fifth consecutive start
Rotowire
Castro will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Tigers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Though Michael Taylor appears to have wrested the everyday center field role away from Castro, the latter's defensive versatility will allow him to stick in the lineup for the fifth game in a row. Castro has now picked up three starts at third base and two in left field over those five games, contributing two stolen bases during that stretch to bring his total up to a team-high 28 for the season. The 26-year-old looks like he'll remain a mainstay in the lineup versus left-handed pitching, and he should be able to work his way into the starting nine at least semi-regularly versus right-handed pitching, too.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Willi Castro: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Castro is not in the lineup Wednesday versus the Cardinals.
Michael Taylor will make a third straight start in center field for the Twins. Castro has put together a few multi-hit games in recent weeks, but he's slashing just .246/.330/.369 across 277 total plate appearances this year.
