Texas Rangers Add Versatile Venezuelan Infielder Diego Castillo on Minor League Contract
The Texas Rangers have continued their search for roster depth by signing veteran utility player Diego A. Castillo to a minor league contract, adding a versatile and experienced bat to the organization after his scorching start in the Mexican League. The move was reported this week by Jon Heyman and later confirmed by multiple outlets. (MLB Trade Rumors).
Castillo, a 28-year-old Venezuelan infielder, had been playing for Algodoneros de Unión Laguna in Mexico prior to the signing, where he was producing at an elite level offensively. Before joining Texas, Castillo was batting above .520 in the Mexican League, including a dominant early-season stretch that quickly drew attention from MLB organizations. (MLB Trade Rumors).
Though the Rangers have not formally announced the transaction, the organization typically handles minor league signings without public press releases. Castillo is widely expected to report to Triple-A Round Rock, where he would provide immediate depth and flexibility for the club’s upper-minors roster. (MLB Trade Rumors).
Castillo offers significant defensive versatility, having played six different positions throughout his professional career. In the minors, he has logged time at all four infield spots as well as both corner outfield positions, making him a valuable depth piece capable of filling multiple roles if injuries arise at the major league level.
Across 10 minor league seasons in the United States, Castillo owns a .273 batting average with a .348 on-base percentage and .377 slugging percentage, along with 49 home runs and 398 RBIs. He spent the 2025 campaign at Triple-A between the Mets and Royals organizations, continuing to show he can provide steady production at the upper-minor-league level. (SI)
Castillo has also accumulated 101 games of Major League experience, appearing with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Minnesota Twins. His most extensive MLB action came during the 2022 season with Pittsburgh, when he played in 96 games and hit 11 home runs while splitting time between shortstop, second base, and right field.
Overall, Castillo owns a career major league slash line of .208/.257/.383 with 11 home runs across parts of three MLB seasons. While those numbers have not yet translated into long-term big-league success, the Rangers are betting his versatility and recent offensive surge could make him a useful option if needed later this season. (MLB Trade Rumors)
Originally signed by the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2015 out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Castillo spent six seasons in New York’s farm system before being traded to Pittsburgh in 2021 as part of the deal that sent reliever Clay Holmes to the Yankees.
Now, after bouncing through several organizations and reigniting his bat overseas, Castillo gets another opportunity with Texas to work his way back toward the major leagues.
For the Rangers, the signing is a low-risk move with potential upside as they add experienced infield insurance to their system.
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