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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on 1B Carlos Castro

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 15, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A young Atlanta Braves fan tries to get an autograph before a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; A young Atlanta Braves fan tries to get an autograph before a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 4, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) doubles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) doubles during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Future Outlook


By no means am I making a direct comparison, but Castro’s swing change is very similar to the one that Edwin Encarnacion made when he went to Toronto. They have similar heights and carry their weight similarly, though Encarnacion carries probably 20-30 more pounds than Castro currently does. Encarnacion moved off of third base and made a swing change to better access his already-present power. He was quickly able to tap into that power, going to 42 home runs in his second full season in Toronto.

While Castro won’t have the Rogers Center to help him out to get the extra home run totals that Encarnacion has enjoyed in his career. However, with that similar swing, I do believe he could have a similar .260-.280 hitter with excellent power, and his solid contact skills keeping his strikeout rate low (Encarnacion had his worst strikeout rate as a Blue Jay this season, at 19.7%, and Castro’s averaged 17.8% in his minor league career thus far). I don’t assume Castro will have the same results as Encarnacion, but they have a lot of similarities that you could dream on Castro being a late bloomer in the same manner as Encarnacion was.

Next: Braves Minor League Database

Technically, Castro is eligible for the Rule V draft this offseason, though it would be quite odd for any team to draft him in the major league or AAA portion, but it wouldn’t be surprising to hear that Castro is added to the AA roster to protect him in that round. That does not necessarily mean that Castro is going to play at AA next season. I’d wager he’s going to start at high-A, and he’ll have a good challenge for his new power-oriented swing in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League with the Braves’ new high-A affiliation.

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