Texas Rangers Sign Free Agent Utility Infielder
Castillo had been playing for los Algodoneros de Union Laguna in the Mexican League, where he went 19-for-36 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in nine games before Texas came calling.
He is expected to head to Triple-A Round Rock, though the Rangers had not formally announced his assignment as of Tuesday.
A Utility Man Built for the Upper Minors
Castillo, 28, is a Venezuelan-born infielder who has bounced around the big league margins for the better part of four years, spending parts of three major league seasons with the Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Twins while logging 101 games and a .208/.257/.383 career batting line in the majors.
The big league numbers have never been strong, but his Triple-A track record tells a more interesting story.
Across parts of five Triple-A seasons, Castillo carries a .279/.384/.401 batting line, with the .384 on-base percentage standing out as a skill given how consistently he has found ways to reach base against quality upper-minor pitching.
The Texas Rangers have signed utility player Diego A. Castillo to a minor league contract. Castillo hit .528 for Union Laguna in the MX League prior to signing with Texas. He is represented by The MAS Agency.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 28, 2026
He also has over 1,200 innings logged at each of second base, third base, and shortstop, which makes him a multi-position depth piece that organizational rosters depend on to cover injuries and fill roster gaps throughout a long season.
Last year, he split Triple-A time between the Mets' Syracuse affiliate and the Royals' Omaha affiliate, posting a combined .262/.342/.395 line before electing free agency and eventually signing with the Mexican League club in January.
Texas is not a team in immediate contention, and Castillo is not a player who changes their big league outlook in any meaningful way.
The Rangers have made a habit this offseason of signing players who caught fire in the Mexican League before their big league stints stalled, and Castillo fits that profile precisely.
El infielder venezolano, Diego Castillo, firmó contrato de Liga Menor con los Texas Rangers.
— El Extrabase ⚾️ (@ElExtrabase) April 27, 2026
Castillo, de 28 años, ha jugado en tres temporadas de Grandes Ligas con Pittsburgh, Arizona y Minnesota.
Recientemente jugó en los Algodoneros de Unión Laguna en México. Tuvo una… pic.twitter.com/xedT7qHwQX
A .528 average in nine Mexican League games before a Rangers scout came calling is not a small sample to be dismissed.
It is also, clearly, not a guarantee of anything at the Triple-A level or beyond.
Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
