At the All-Star Game, Troy Tulowitzki pointed out Starlin Castro and turned to Cal Ripken Jr. From one shortstop to another, Tulowitzki told Ripken: This kid is somebody to watch.
These Cubs don’t have much of a Q rating, or a superstar with real box-office appeal. They’re off the grid nationally and fading in their own city. But during a lost season, Castro has made everyone take notice.
“You can’t help but like him,” Ripken said over the phone. “He’s going to be a pretty fantastic player.”
Ripken will be at Wrigley Field on Saturday for the Under Armour All-America Game. It’s hard to believe, but Castro isn’t much older than the elite high school players who will be at that showcase. At the age of 21, he’s the Sports Illustrated cover boy who lives with his parents.
Castro woke up on Monday leading the National League with 150 hits. He was named the league’s player of the week after batting .515 (17-for-33) with two homers and 10 runs scored in seven games. He has shown no signs of slowing down.
“I never say to (manager Mike) Quade, ‘Hey, I’m tired’ or ‘Give me the day off,’” Castro said. “I don’t need it. I feel good, mentally and physically.”
Castro grew up so far removed from the American amateur baseball system, where kids work out with personal trainers and travel all across the country for tournaments. As a boy, he didn’t wear expensive cleats and had to borrow a glove from a friend. His father finally bought him one when he was 14.
Ripken respects how players from the Dominican Republic have to be quick learners. The Hall of Famer remembers shortstops Tony Fernandez and Alfredo Griffin as part of his peer group, and he appreciates the style and creativity they brought to the position.
The next generation will want to be like Castro. He’s on pace to finish with 211 hits this year, and put together his second .300 season before his 22nd birthday.
The Cubs credit Castro for doing it in a big market, and staying grounded despite all the hype. He hasn’t given in to big city temptations. The organization hasn’t been embarrassed by pictures taken with a camera phone.
“I feel for all the players now,” Ripken said. “They’re under much more scrutiny. You really got to be careful. You got to ask yourself: Am I OK with this being on the front page of the paper tomorrow?”
Ripken built his own brand by playing in 2,632 consecutive games for the Baltimore Orioles. He became identified with one city and one team, gaining a reputation for hard work and playing the game the right way.
Ripken was already a seven-time All-Star by the time Castro was born. But Castro has a real understanding of the game’s history and has already mapped out the endgame in his head: “I want to be here my whole career.”
Castro thinks about Cooperstown, and you can see his game evolving from one night to the next. He says he’s learning how to separate his offense and his defense and not carry a bad at-bat out onto the field.
Only two seasons removed from playing at Class-A Daytona, Castro has generated five homers, 28 doubles and eight triples. The Cubs believe it’s only a matter of time before more of those line drives fall into the bleachers. In the near future, they project him to hit 25 homers annually.
“You can see it in batting practice,” outfielder Tyler Colvin said. “He can definitely hit home runs. It’s one of those things where he’ll definitely keep getting bigger and stronger and better.”
You don’t have to be an All-Star or a Hall of Famer or a Cubs executive to know you’re watching something special. With Castro, everything goes back to this idea: Why not?
Patrick Mooney is CSNChicago.com's Cubs beat writer. Follow Patrick on Twitter @CSNMooney for up-to-the-minute Cubs news and views.
