The Mets have signed infielder Diego Castillo to a minor league contract, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Venezuelan journalist Georgeny Pérez initially reported the signing last week.
Castillo, not to be mistaken for the reliever of the same name, is a 27-year-old utility player. He appeared in four games for the Twins last season, recording two hits in six at-bats before being outrighted off the 40-man roster in July. After finishing the year in Triple-A, he chose minor league free agency. In 113 games, the right-handed hitter posted a solid .261/.364/.397 slash line, showing strong plate discipline with nearly as many walks as strikeouts.
Castillo has now seen brief major league action in back-to-back seasons, though his only extended MLB stint came with the Pirates in 2022. That year, he hit .206/.251/.382 with a 26.5% strikeout rate over 283 plate appearances. However, he has displayed much better plate discipline in Triple-A, where he owns a .283/.393/.403 slash line across four seasons. While he offers minimal power, his strong upper minors track record and defensive versatility make him a useful depth option.
This marks Castillo’s second stint with the Mets. He was on their 40-man roster for just one week in January 2024 after New York picked him up off waivers from Arizona, only to be designated for assignment seven days later. After bouncing around the league via waivers, he eventually ended up with the Twins in a minor trade in April. Castillo still has an option remaining, so if the Mets secure him a spot on their 40-man roster during the regular season, they could move him between the major league team in Queens and Triple-A Syracuse.
