Tweet
I was a bit bored at work today and came across a player on my AAA team that didn't get to see the field at all this year due to an injury sustained at the end of the 1986 season. I posted this article on the front page (not actually sure if I'm supposed to post articles on the forums too. I'm still new around here):
2B Ruben Castillo
A fourth round draft pick (89th Overall) in 1984 at the age of 19, Ruben Castillo was seen as a future force as a middle infielder. His initial potential ratings according to team scouts placed him at a 8 | 5 | 7 and had team execs excited about his future.
He jumped in to A ball in 1984 after the draft and put up respectable numbers as a 19 year old. He returned to A ball in 85 for a half season and continued to show flashes. His numbers by no means were dominating, but the coaches and scouts saw the growth taking place. He earned a promotion to AA and immediately exploded on the scene. It was only a 24 game audition, but he put up a .351 | .366 | .588 | .954 line in 97 ABs. He lashed 6 HRs in those 97 ABs showing that his untapped power was starting to shine through as he got more comfortable as a pro.
When the 85 AA season came to an end the decision was made to give him a token promotion to AAA to finish out the year because that's where the braintrust anticipated him starting the 86 season. He struggled a bit at AAA to begin the year, but wasn't embarrassing himself. It was all a part of the process to develop his raw tools at the highest level at which he could reasonably compete. The plan was to give him that full season and then follow up with another season assignment to AAA to see if he would follow his development pattern of initially struggling, but competing, before taking off and showing that he was ready for the next level.
Then came the fateful day of August 22, 1986. In an attempt to make an incredible over the shoulder catch on a flare over his head Ruben raced straight into right center field and lunged at the ball. The ball glanced off the tip of his glove and he came down awkwardly with all of his body weight landing on his side. It was apparent immediately that something was wrong when Ruben writhed in pain on the field. The trainers ran out and helped Ruben off the field, his injured arm held close to his side.
The initial indication was a separated shoulder. The team doctors were hopeful that a scan wouldn't show any structural damage (other than the requisite deep tissue swelling that would accompany such an injury), but the staffs' hearts sank when the MRI revealed a significantly torn labrum. A catastrophic injury for any baseball player, but especially for a young minor league player who never got to fully develop and experience the success of making it to the show. The prognosis: Ruben would miss 13 months. Thirteen important months of development and polish that now leaves his future up in the air. That means he missed the entire 1987 season, the season he was supposed to make it to the Bigs.
The scouts don't really know what to make of Ruben now. He hasn't even been able to make it back for any baseball activities yet. They do agree that he will probably never be able to reach the potential they once saw for him. Fans that follow the minors will always hold a spot in their hearts for Ruben and hope that he somehow, someway manages to scratch out that ML career that he appeared destined for.
2B Ruben Castillo
A fourth round draft pick (89th Overall) in 1984 at the age of 19, Ruben Castillo was seen as a future force as a middle infielder. His initial potential ratings according to team scouts placed him at a 8 | 5 | 7 and had team execs excited about his future.
He jumped in to A ball in 1984 after the draft and put up respectable numbers as a 19 year old. He returned to A ball in 85 for a half season and continued to show flashes. His numbers by no means were dominating, but the coaches and scouts saw the growth taking place. He earned a promotion to AA and immediately exploded on the scene. It was only a 24 game audition, but he put up a .351 | .366 | .588 | .954 line in 97 ABs. He lashed 6 HRs in those 97 ABs showing that his untapped power was starting to shine through as he got more comfortable as a pro.
When the 85 AA season came to an end the decision was made to give him a token promotion to AAA to finish out the year because that's where the braintrust anticipated him starting the 86 season. He struggled a bit at AAA to begin the year, but wasn't embarrassing himself. It was all a part of the process to develop his raw tools at the highest level at which he could reasonably compete. The plan was to give him that full season and then follow up with another season assignment to AAA to see if he would follow his development pattern of initially struggling, but competing, before taking off and showing that he was ready for the next level.
Then came the fateful day of August 22, 1986. In an attempt to make an incredible over the shoulder catch on a flare over his head Ruben raced straight into right center field and lunged at the ball. The ball glanced off the tip of his glove and he came down awkwardly with all of his body weight landing on his side. It was apparent immediately that something was wrong when Ruben writhed in pain on the field. The trainers ran out and helped Ruben off the field, his injured arm held close to his side.
The initial indication was a separated shoulder. The team doctors were hopeful that a scan wouldn't show any structural damage (other than the requisite deep tissue swelling that would accompany such an injury), but the staffs' hearts sank when the MRI revealed a significantly torn labrum. A catastrophic injury for any baseball player, but especially for a young minor league player who never got to fully develop and experience the success of making it to the show. The prognosis: Ruben would miss 13 months. Thirteen important months of development and polish that now leaves his future up in the air. That means he missed the entire 1987 season, the season he was supposed to make it to the Bigs.
The scouts don't really know what to make of Ruben now. He hasn't even been able to make it back for any baseball activities yet. They do agree that he will probably never be able to reach the potential they once saw for him. Fans that follow the minors will always hold a spot in their hearts for Ruben and hope that he somehow, someway manages to scratch out that ML career that he appeared destined for.
Comment