There is one reason (and it is really big) that you could make that Luis Castillo should be near the top of the all-time Miami Marlins list. Castillo is one of three players who won both of the Marlins’ World Series rings. Well, sort of.
Coming from the San Pedro de Macoris of the Dominican Republic, Castillo is one of the many on the long list of infielders to come from this baseball factory of a town. Signed as an Amateur Free Agent in 1992, Castillo made it to the Marlins in 1996 and bounced back and forth between the Minors and Majors until 1998. Castillo played for Florida in 1997 in the season but was optioned back to the Minors in late July and was not on their World Series-winning roster but did receive a ring for his service that year.
In 1999, Castillo was elevated to Florida’s starting Second Baseman, and he stayed in that role until 2005. Castillo was a demon on the basepaths, leading the NL in Stolen Bases in 2000 and 2002, and would become a three-time All-Star (2002, 2003 & 2005). His defense would also become a calling card, winning three Gold Gloves in a row from 2003 to 2005, and while he was not a power hitter by any stretch, he did hit for average, collecting five .300 years as a Marlin before he was traded to Minnesota in the 2005/06 offseason.
As of this writing, Castillo is still the all-time franchise leader in Games Played (1,128), Runs Scored (875), Hits (1,273), Triples (42), and Stolen Bases (281).
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