Luis Miguel Castillo...born in Bani, Dominican Republic...lives in Bani during the offseason with his wife and two daughters...enjoys fishing in his free time...Signed as an international free agent by San Francisco on Dec. 23, 2011...has appeared in 6 Major League seasons with Cincinnati (2017-2022) and Seattle (2022).
2023
Owned a 3.34 ERA (73 ER, 197.0 IP) with 56 walks and 219 strikeouts in 33 games started...he held opponents to a .218 (160x735) batting average this season which is the fifth-lowest opponents batting average in his career...Was one of only nine pitchers to make 33 starts in the Major Leagues...is the second time in his career that he has 33 games in a season (also: 2021)...Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in his outing on May 22 against Oakland after striking out Shea Langeliers to begin the fifth inning...Was named to his third All-Star team on July 2 (also: 2019, 2022)...he was joined by teammates George Kirby and Julio Rodríguez...Carried a perfect game into the seventh inning in his start against Colorado on April 16...earned his second win of the season after pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while striking out nine batters...the last Mariners pitcher to throw a perfect game was Félix Hernández on Aug. 15, 2012...Made his third career Opening Day start on March 30 vs. Cleveland and his first with the Mariners, becoming the 18th different pitcher to start on Opening Day in franchise history...Previously on Opening Day - Became just the 3rd Mariners starter to hold the opponent scoreless in an Opening Day start, joining Félix Hernández (2007, 2013 & 2018) and Randy Johnson (1995)...he is the first player in franchise history to toss 6.0+ scoreless innings while allowing one-or fewer hits on Opening Day...his game score of 76 was the highest of any Opening Day starter in 2023...Did not allow a run in either of his first two starts to begin the season, becoming just the third Mariners pitcher to do that, joining Félix Hernández (2007) and James Paxton (2017)...Gave up his first home run of the season on April 28, breaking a five-game span of allowing no home runs...this was his longest span of games to start a season without giving up a home run in his career...Recorded 216 strikeouts, his second career 200 strikeout season...he recorded 226 strikeouts in 2019...Made 10 starts this season where he has pitched at least seven innings...his 10 starts of 7.0+ innings pitched are the most in a season in his career...was tied for the seventh-most 7.0+ innings pitched games in the Majors in 2023 and the second most on the Mariners...Had a 1.82 ERA (7 ER, 34.2 IP) through his first six starts of the season which his second-best ERA to start the season and his fourth best ERA in any single month in his career...over this six game span opponents hit just .189 (24x127) against him...Made three starts where he recorded double digits strikeout...May 27 vs. Pittsburgh (10 strikeouts), June 9 at the Los Angeles Angels (10) and July 19 vs. Minnesota (11)...his 11 strikeouts against Minnesota was his season-high...Recorded 30+ strikeouts in each month he pitched with a season-high 41 strikeouts coming in the month of July...marks the second time in his career that he has recorded 30+ strikeouts in each month that he has pitched in a season (also: 2019)...In his 44 starts with the Mariners he has recorded 296 strikeouts which is the most in a pitcher’s first 44 starts with Seattle in franchise history...Allowed 227 baserunners which was the second-fewest in the Major Leagues behind Gerrit Cole-NYY (217) (min. 33 GS)...he also finished the season ranked among American League leaders (min. 150.0 IP) in opponents average (3rd, .218/160x735) and WHIP (6th, 1.096)...Allowed 73 earned runs in 33 starts, which was the second-fewest in the Major Leagues (min. 33 GS)...his 3.34 ERA (73 ER, 197.0 IP) ranked tied fifth in the American League among qualified pitchers...Made eight starts against National League opponents...he went 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA (14 ER, 47.2 IP), 16 walks and 54 strikeouts...his 2.64 ERA is his third best in any season against interleague opponents after the 2022 (1.13 ERA) and 2019 (2.37 ERA) seasons...After facing both Texas and Baltimore for the first time in his career in 2023 there are now just two teams that he has yet to pitch against, Cincinnati and Seattle, the two teams that he has played for in his career.
2022
Went 8-6 with a 2.99 ERA (50 ER, 150.1 IP) with 45 walks and 167 strikeouts in 25 starts between Cincinnati (14 GS) and Seattle (11 GS)...Went 4-2 with a 3.17 ERA (23 ER, 65.1 IP) with 17 walks and 77 strikeouts in 11 starts with the Mariners...Went 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA (27 ER, 85.0 IP) with 28 walks and 90 strikeouts in 14 starts with the Reds...Posted a career-best 2.99 ERA (50 ER, 150.1 IP) this season, surpassing his previous career-best 3.40 ERA (72 ER, 190.2 IP) in 2019 (min. 25 GS)...Was named to his second All-Star team this season (also 2019)...tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts at Dodger Stadium in this year’s AllStar Game in Los Angeles...Acquired by the Mariners from Cincinnati prior to the trade deadline on July 29 in exchange for minor leaguers Noelvi Marte (inf), Edwin Arroyo (inf), Levi Stoudt (rhp) and Andrew Moore (rhp) on July 29, 2022...Began his start on 9/7 vs. Chicago-AL by striking out the first 7 batters he faced, setting a franchise record for most strikeouts to begin a start, passing Michael Pineda (5 on 7/9/11 at LAA)...the seven strikeouts also tied the AL record for most strikeouts to begin a game (done 4x, last: Blake Snell-TB, 6/3/18 vs. SEA)... Struck out 69 batters through his first 10 Mariners starts, the most in franchise history, ahead of teammate Robbie Ray, who fanned 68 through his first 10 starts with the club...Recorded 8-consecutive quality starts from 6/28-8/15, a career-best streak (previous: 5, 2x (8/14-9/5/21 and 6/15-7/6/21 w/CIN)...tossed a quality start in each of his first 3 starts with Seattlefif (8/3-8/15)...Made first home start at T-Mobile Park on Aug. 9 vs. New York-AL...tossed 8.0 scoreless innings allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 on 110 pitches, 72 for strikes...marked the third time in his career he has thrown 8.0+ innings, and just the 2nd time he has tossed 8.0+ scoreless innings (also: 9/21/18 at MIA)...induced 20 swings-and-misses, the third-most he has induced in a game this season... Struck out 8 in his first start with the Mariners on 8/3 at New York-AL...Eight strikeouts are tied for the third-most in a Mariners debut (also: Cliff Lee), trailing Andy Benes and Enrique Romo who struck out 9...Benes and Castillo both made their Mariners debuts on Aug. 3, after being acquired by the Mariners at the trade deadline.
2021
Established career highs in losses, starts, hits allowed, runs allowed, earned runs allowed, highest batting average against (.255) and batters faced (803)...fell 3.0 innings shy of his career-high...Led the National League in walks and GIDPs induced (20), tied for the league lead in starts and losses, ranked third in hits allowed and fifth in runs allowed...Castillo and Tyler Mahle were two of seven pitchers, and the only teammates, to lead the Major Leagues in starts (Sandy Alcantara, Walker Buehler, Kevin Gausman, Charlie Morton, Marcus Stroman)...Went 1-8, 7.22 in 11 starts through May and 7-8, 2.73 in 22 starts the rest of the year...His 2.73 ERA over 22 starts beginning June 1 was the eighth-best in the Major Leagues (Walker Buehler 2.39, Robbie Ray 2.48, Corbin Burnes 2.51, Max Scherzer 2.54, Adam Wainwright 2.58, Julio Urías 2.59, Max Fried 2.62)...In June posted a 1.71 ERA, the fifth-best ERA in the National League (Jacob deGrom 0.67, Max Scherzer 1.42, Zach Wheeler 1.44, Anthony DeSclafani 1.69)...In July posted a 2.15 ERA, the third-best in the National League (Walker Buehler 1.67, Freddy Peralta 2.14)...In September/October posted a 2.35 ERA, the ninth-best in the National League...Threw quality starts in seven of his last nine apps (2-5, 2.70), in 11 of his last 14 apps (5-6, 3.18) and beginning 6/4 in 17 of his last 22 apps (7-8, 2.73)...Three times allowed a career-high 8 earned runs (Opening Day vs StL, 5/13 at Col, 8/9 at Cle)...in his other 30 starts posted an ERA of 2.99...Was the victim of a blown save five times...One other start, a 4.0-inning stint on 4/20 vs Ari, also included a blown save...his 6 starts total in which Reds relievers suffered a blown save were three behind Major League co-leaders Tyler Mahle and Kevin Gausman...Suffered an 11-6 loss vs StL in the second Opening Day start of his career...was the coldest Opening Day in Reds history (37 degrees)...In that Opening Day loss failed to record a strikeout for the only time since 4/28/18 at Min (1ip)...prior to Opening Day recorded at least one strikeout in 69 consecutive starts (5/2/18 - 9/26/20)...recorded at least one strikeout in each of his last 32 starts of 2021...allowed a career-high 10 runs, including six runs in the top of the first inning, and tied his career-high by allowing eight earned runs...the Reds allowed six runs in the top of the first inning of an Opening Day game for the first time in their history...Recorded his 600th career strikeout on 5/1 vs Cubs (David Bote) and his 700th on 8/4 vs Min (Max Kepler)...On 5/18 vs SF became the first Reds pitcher with 10 strikeouts through a game’s first four innings since Jim Maloney did it on 5/21/1963 at Mil...Castillo had eight strikeouts in the first three innings...In the 9-4 loss on 5/23 vs Mil made his 100th career start...His 6-4 win on 6/4 at StL snapped his seven-game and seven-start losing streaks, both the longest of his career... was the first Reds pitcher to lose 7 straight decisions or lose 7 consecutive apps, all as a starting pitcher, since Homer Bailey lost seven consecutive starts from 7/31-9/5, 2018...per @EliasSports, no Reds pitcher ever, in a single season, has lost 8 consecutive apps, all as a starting pitcher...In the 7-6 walk-off loss on 7/6 at KC, allowed only a fifth-inning, solo HR to Michael A. Taylor that snapped Castillo’s 37-inning homerless streak (6/4-7/6)...In Baseball America’s Best Tools survey, for the second time in three seasons his changeup was rated by field managers the best in the National League.
2020
Ranked among the National League leaders in strikeouts per nine innings (11.44, 6th), strikeouts (8th) and ERA (11th)...In September, led the National League in wins (4) while ranking fifth in ERA (2.20) as the Reds battled for their first Postseason berth since 2013...In one of the Reds’ biggest games of the year, on 9/11 at StL threw a two-hitter for his first career complete game...the Reds entered that game in fourth place, a season-high six games under .500, 6.5 games out of first place in the NL Central Division and 3.5 games out of the Wild Card...beginning with that 3-1 win at Busch Stadium, the Reds finished the season 12-4 to earn their first Postseason berth since 2013...became the first Reds pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game since Scott Feldman’s 4-0 win vs SF on 5/7/17...became the first opposing pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game at Busch Stadium since Pit’s Edinson Volquez on 9/10/14...retired 19 of his last 21 batters... allowed only a double to Paul DeJong in the second inning and a single to Kolten Wong in the third...That 3-1 win at StL began a three-game streak from 9/11-9/21 over which he produced a career-high 18.0-inning scorless streak, the longest by a Reds pitcher in 2020...Started and suffered the 5-0 loss at Atl in the deciding Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series... allowed only an RBI-double to Ronald Acuña Jr. with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning...became just the second Reds pitcher ever to record at least seven strikeouts while only allowing one run or less in a Postseason debut, joining Hod Eller (9k, 1919 World Series Game 5 at White Sox).
2019
In his third Major League season at just 26 years old, was the Reds' Opening Day starting pitcher and a National League All-Star...elected by his peers, joined Sonny Gray as the first Reds starting pitchers named to the All-Star team since Johnny Cueto and Alfredo Simon in 2014...Was National League Pitcher of the Month for March/April (7gs, 3-1, 1.45) after ranking second in the NL and third in the Major Leagues in ERA, second in the NL and sixth in the majors in strikeouts (50) and third in the NL and T6th in the majors in innings pitched (43.1)...was the first Reds pitcher to win the monthly award since LHP Denny Neagle in September 1999 and the first Reds righthanded starter recognized since Jose Rijo in September 1992...Averaged 10.57 strikeouts per 9 innings, the highest ratio in Reds history for pitchers with a minimum of 125 innings...Ranked among the National League leaders in opponents' BA (.202, 3rd), wins (5th), ERA (12th), innings pitched (10th), strikeouts (9th), strikeouts per 9 innings (10.67, 6th) and starts (T8th)...Became the first Reds pitcher with 15 wins in a season since Johnny Cueto (20-9) and Alfredo Simon (15-10) each did it in 2014...Castillo (226) and Sonny Gray (205) became the first Reds teammates to each record at least 200 strikeouts in the same year...their strikeout ratios of 10.67 and 10.52 per 9 innings, respectively, were the highest in Reds history for pitchers with at least 125 innings...Led the team in wins, starts, quality starts (20), innings pitched and strikeouts, all career highs...In his first career Opening Day start was the victim of a blown save in the 5-3 win vs Pit (5.2ip, 2h, 1er, 3bb, 8k)...became the fifth straight different Opening Day starter for the Reds (Johnny Cueto 2012-2015, Raisel Iglesias 2016, Scott Feldman in 2017, Homer Bailey in 2018)...is the longest stretch of different Opening Day starting pitchers since a 6-year stretch from 2001-2006 (Pete Harnisch 2000-2001, Joey Hamilton 2002, Jimmy Haynes 2003, Cory Lidle 2004, Paul Wilson 2005, Aaron Harang 2006)...Produced 8 starts in which he threw at least 5.0 innings while allowing 2 hits or fewer and 2 runs or fewer, a single-season franchise record...Began the season 1-1, 0.92 in his first 3 starts (19.2ip, 5h, 2er, 8bb, 25k)...since the distance from the pitching rubber to home plate was set at 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893, only 3 times in Major League history has a pitcher made 3 consecutive starts in a season with at least 8 strikeouts and no more than 2 hits allowed in each game (Sea's Randy Johnson, 1997 & NYG's Rube Marquart, 1911)...Castillo's streak, to open this season, was snapped in the 4-3 walkoff loss on 4/15 at LAD (5ip, 4h, 2er, 5bb, 7k)...Over 13 apps from 4/9-6/17 produced a career-high 7-game winning streak (7-0, 2.40)...was the longest winning streak by a Reds pitcher in 2019...On 4/20 at SD recorded his 300th career strikeout (Manny Machado)...In the third inning on 7/15 at Wrigley Field allowed a 2-out, solo HR to Kyle Schwarber than snapped his career-high scoreless streak at 14.2 innings...In his 7-4 win on 8/5 vs LAA, his career-high 13 strikeouts were the most by a Reds pitcher since Raisel Iglesias had 13 strikeouts on 8/23/15 vs Ari and the most by a Reds pitcher in 2019...In the second inning of his 2-0 loss on 9/7 vs Ari recorded his 200th strikeout of the season (Josh Rojas)...In the National League's 4-3 All-Star Game loss at Cle's Progressive Field, threw a perfect fourth inning (Carlos Santana K, J.D. Martinez K, Alex Bregman 4-3)...Per Baseball America, his changeup was voted by managers, scouts and executives the best in the National League.
2018
At 25 years old and in just his second Major League season led the staff in wins, losses, starts, quality starts (11), innings pitched and strikeouts...among National League leaders ranked T3rd in HR allowed and 10th in runs allowed...after the All-Star Game break, his 2.44 ERA over 11 starts was fifth-best in the National League and ninth-lowest in the Major Leagues...received votes for the National League Pitcher of the Month Award for September after producing a 3-1 record while tying for the Major League lead with a 1.09 ERA...in his last 3 starts of the season went 2-0, 0.84 (21.1ip, 13h, 2er, 6bb, 6k, 1hr) and finished the year with a career-high 10.0-inning scoreless streak over his 2 final starts...his season-high 3-game winning streak from 5/8-5/24 (4gs, 3-0, 2.78) was the first winning streak of his career...produced an additional pair of 2-game winning streaks...in his 4-0 win on 9/1 at StL recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts, the second-highest total by a Reds pitcher in a game in 2018 (Tyler Mahle, 12k, 6/30 vs Mil)...in the 10-inning, 1-0 loss on 9/21 at Mia, his final start of the season, didn't allow a run in 8.1 innings...was a career high for innings pitched in a game and the longest outing by a Reds pitcher in 2018...during spring training, from 3/13-3/17 spent time in New York with wife Delores while celebrating the birth of their first child, Brittany.
2017
Led National League rookies in ERA and opponents' batting average (.202) while ranking eighth among rookies in strikeouts...following the season was rated by Baseball America the seventh-best prospect in the Southern League...was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June (4gs, 3-1, 1.42, 1cg at Pensacola)...the Reds went 7-8 in his 15 starts...with 8 quality starts ranked second on the staff behind Scott Feldman's 9 QS...produced all 8 quality starts in his last 12 apps beginning 7/8 (3-6, 2.84), including 6 QS in his last 8 apps beginning 7/30 (2-3, 2.37)...beginning 7/8 and among pitchers with at least 12 starts, his 2.84 ERA ranked seventh in the Major Leagues behind Corey Kluber (1.79), Justin Verlander (1.92), Kyle Hendricks (2.19), Luis Severino (2.40), Jake Arrieta (2.48) & Marcus Stroman (2.73)...beginning 7/30 and among pitchers with at least 8 starts, his 2.37 ERA ranked seventh in the Major Leagues behind Stephen Strasburg (0.84), Corey Kluber (1.42), Justin Verlander (1.65), Kyle Hendricks (2.23), Jake Arrieta (2.27) and Robbie Ray (2.28)...began the season at Pensacola and made 14 starts there before he was promoted on 6/23 to start at Wsh...joined the rotation along with RHP Homer Bailey to fill the spots in the rotation previously occupied by RHP Asher Wojciechowski (DFA) and RHP Bronson Arroyo (disabled)...spent the rest of the season with the Reds...in each of his first 2 career starts was the victim of a blown save...left his Major League debut with a 5-2 lead over Wsh and left the 4-3 win on 6/28 vs Mil with a 3-2 lead...in his debut on 6/23 at Wsh, thanks to a 5-hit, 4-run top of the first inning made his first career plate appearance (groundout) before he threw his first career pitch...struck out his first batter (Trea Turner) and allowed a home run to his second (Brian Goodwin)...his Major League debut was his first professional appearance above Class AA...earned his first career win in his fourth start, on 7/8 at Ari (7-0 win, 6.2ip, 3h, 1bb, 8k)...made a second scoreless start on 8/15 at Cubs (2-1 win, 6ip, 2h, 2bb, 7k)...on 7/20 vs Ari singled off Patrick Corbin for his first career hit...on 5/5 at Chattanooga allowed a season-high 5 runs in 1.2 innings, his shortest start of the season...his ERA in his other 13 starts for Pensacola was 2.06.
2016
Was Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Florida State League Pitcher of the Year, a Baseball America High Class A All-Star and an MiLB.com Marlins Organizational All-Star...also was Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May (5g, 4gs, 2-1, 1.67) and a Florida State League mid-season All-Star...combined to finish 8-6, 2.26 in 26 games and 24 starts for Class A Jupiter and Class AA Jacksonville...his sterling 2.26 ERA ranked third among all minor league pitchers with at least 24 starts...led the Florida State League in ERA (2.07) and opponents' batting average (.219) while ranking second in WHIP (0.96)...threw his only professional complete game on 8/17 for Jupiter, a 1-0 loss shortened by rain to 5.2 innings...on 7/29 was included as part of Mia's trade with SD that also sent RHP Jarred Cosart, RHP Carter Capps and 1B Josh Naylor to the Padres for RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Colin Rae and RHP Tayron Guerrero...after Rae experienced right elbow issues following his lone start with Mia, the Padres and Marlins agreed to restructure part of the trade...on 8/1 Castillo was returned to the Marlins in exchange for Rae.
