All-Star rock: Luis Castillo named as Seattle’s representative in Midsummer Classic
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – During today’s Sunday day game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo was named as an All-Star. In the middle of his outing, the All-Star selection show announced that Castillo is to be the Mariners representative at the Midsummer Classic that they’re hosting here in Seattle. As the pitchers in the All-Star game are not voted on by the fans, a mixture of players, managers, and coaches selected Castillo to earn his third career All-Star selection, and first as a Mariner. While we are still yet to find out the reserves for this game, which certainly could see teammates of Castillo join him, he’s the only one to get the nod without that “replacement” designation.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo’s Opening Day outing and final Spring Training outing (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Rock solid start to the season
Through the month of April, Luis Castillo looked like the Mariners ace and has been arguably throughout the course of the season so far. The veteran right hander led the league in ERA in the earlier parts of the season, never allowing more than three runs before his May 5th start against the Houston Astros. His dominance on the mound looked just like what Seattle had paid for when the Mariners had extended him this past season. The month of May was fine, but his first three outings of that month (Houston, Texas, Boston) saw Castillo come back down to Earth a bit before closing it out strong with shutout performances against Oakland and Pittsburgh.
Since then, Castillo has been solid, but not quite what he was looking like in the beginning of the season. It was hard to believe that Luis was going to be able to keep up that sort of form where he had a sub 2.00 ERA in the early months of the season, but seeing some lack in control was concerning. In June and so far, July, Castillo has at times seen his walks go up and homers allowed as well. He’s taking some good strides since May to work back to “ace” form, but he isn’t quite there yet. Getting back there isn’t necessarily crucial to Seattle’s success, good and consistent hitting is, but getting back to that point for Castillo still makes an impact for the Mariners.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo’s year so far, through pictures (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
When will he pitch?
It’s an interesting question to ask when it comes to where Castillo will get the ball, considering that he’s pitching in his home ballpark and the managerial crew for the American League may decide that it’s only fitting he starts the game off. With the uncertainty of Shohei Ohtani pitching, and the likelihood that he doesn’t pitch at all in the All-Star game, it makes sense to give Castillo the ball to begin the game. Considering how he hasn’t been the best pitcher in the American League throughout the entirety of the first half of the season, it would be understandable if he doesn’t go first, but the previously listed reason makes me believe that is what could take place when the All-Star game gets underway on Tuesday, July 11th at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo’s year to this point (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Who could join Castillo?
While no other Mariners will be named to the team as a starter or in the “first wave,” players that were voted in by fans as reserves, Seattle has a chance to have a few other players join Castillo as injury replacement players. First option to join him would be rotation teammate George Kirby, who I would’ve argued should’ve made this American League roster as the Mariners representative. In addition to Kirby, given the numerous injuries to American League outfielders, I wouldn’t doubt that Julio Rodriguez makes it into the game considering that and his face value to the game of baseball as a whole. So, considering that this is now about the time when we find out about injury replacements and such, keep an eye out for who makes it in.