Jose Castillo is 10 bullpens into his latest comeback, and the memory of what he once appeared to be remains vivid enough that the Padres can envision him being a significant piece in their bullpen in 2022.
It might seem longer since the 26-year-old Castillo has pitched in the major leagues, but it was just 2018 that he was one of the most effective left-handed relievers in the game.
The big man (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) with upper-90s fastball and late-breaking slider struck out the side in his major league debut on June 2 of that year and fanned 10 of the first 14 batters he faced. He finished '18 with 52 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings, a 34.7 percent K rate that ranked fifth among lefty relievers with at least 30 innings pitched. (The top four were Josh Hader, Aroldis Chapman, Sean Doolittle and Brad Hand.)
Castillo's .170 batting average allowed also ranked fifth. Left-handed batters hit just .133 against him; righties hit .189. he allowed just three of 16 inherited runners to score and posted a 0.91 WHIP.
Then the injuries commenced. All over the place.
Castillo walked off the mound during a bullpen session in February 2019 and missed the first four months of that season with a flexor strain. On the day he was recalled from his extended rehab assignment, Aug. 8, he entered a game in the seventh inning and departed after 17 pitches with what would later be revealed to be a torn tendon in his middle finger.
The following summer, in the delayed camp before the shortened 2020 season, he suffered a lat strain and did not pitch that year.
Last spring, he again walked off a mound, this time during a live batting practice in early March. He had Tommy John surgery a few days later.
"It was tough, more mentally for me," Castillo said Monday. "I see my teammates work out. I just want to help them, and I can't. That's really tough."
Castillo, who mostly answered questions in English but also with assistance from translator Danny Sanchez, spoke after playing catch and doing defensive drills on the first day of Padres minor league camp. He is allowed to be here during the MLB lockout because he is technically no longer a major leaguer.
Needing space on the 40-man roster this offseason, the Padres cleared one spot by removing Castillo. He subsequently signed with the club as a minor league free agent.
"I feel comfortable here," he said Monday. "And I feel like I have a debt to pay to San Diego. … They gave me the opportunity. I need to repay that."
Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller said in January of the mutual desire to continue the relationship: "I think everybody (who has) seen him knows what his ability is when he's healthy. And I think that's just the biggest key."
The Padres have three primary left-handed options in the bullpen. Tim Hill was second in the National league with 78 appearances in 2021. Ray Kerr, a hard thrower whom the Padres got from Seattle in trade for Adam Frazier, is expected to challenge to make the jump from Triple-A. Drew Pomeranz, who had a 1.75 ERA over 25 2/3 innings last season, is expected to be ready around the start of May after having flexor tendon surgery in August.
While team doctors are allowed to speak with major league players during the lockout, other team personnel are not allowed to interact with players. So the Padres won't have a full understanding of Pomeranz's status (or health of any players) until spring training begins. In that sense, Castillo counts himself fortunate.
"Being taken off the 40-man has helped in terms of being around the trainers and the staff," he said.
Castillo expects to throw live batting practices later this month and pitch in minor league games in mid-April.
"All this process, (it) is good for me mentally," Castillo said. "It made me (be able) to see what things are good for me, what things are bad for me. That part helped me. The other part, three years (of) injuries, all the things that come to your head, it was a little tough. But now I feel way better."
