| José Castro | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Castro with the Braves in 2022 | |
| Infielder /Coach | |
| Born: (1958-05-05)May 5, 1958 (age 67) Havana, Cuba | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
José Castro (born May 5, 1958) is a Cuban-Americanprofessional baseballcoach. He was previously a coach for theSeattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,Atlanta Braves, andChicago White Sox.
Castro defected from Cuba with his family at the age of seven in 1965. Castro went toMiami Jackson Senior High School where they retired his number, "9". Signed out of high school by thePhiladelphia Phillies in 1977, Castro played the minor leagues for 14 years, with 10 of these being at the Triple-A level. However, he never played in the majors. He went into coaching after ending his playing career.[1]
Castro served as the hitting coach for theMontreal Expos Triple-A affiliateEdmonton Trappers in 2003,[2] then theSan Diego Padres Triple-A affiliatePortland Beavers in 2005 and 2006.,[3][4] He was named theSeattle Mariners roving minor league hitting instructor in December 2007.[5]
FollowingSeattle Mariners managerJohn McLaren's firing on June 19, 2008, bench coachJim Riggleman was promoted to the top spot,Lee Elia was moved from hitting coach to bench coach, and Castro became the new hitting coach for the team.[6] On January 13, 2009, he was named the Mariners' minor league hitting coordinator.[7] On August 9, 2010, Castro was promoted from hitting coach to interim manager of the Tacoma Rainiers, replacingDaren Brown. The Mariners had named Brown their manager after firingDon Wakamatsu earlier that day.[8] He subsequently returned to the hitting coordinator role.[9]
Before the 2013 season began, theKansas City Royals named Castro their assistant minor league hitting coordinator.[10][11][12][13] Castro spent the 2014 season with theChicago Cubs as a quality assurance coach,[14] and was subsequently hired by theAtlanta Braves as an assistant hitting coach.[15]
On November 29, 2022, theChicago White Sox hired Castro as their hitting coach for the 2023 season.[16][17] He was fired after the season.[18]
Castro is married and has two children and two grandchildren.[9]