Better or Worse in 2025: Twins super utility player Willi Castro

Looks, it's an infielder!
No it's an outfielder!
No, that's Willi Castro!

Castro has become a fan favorite over the past couple of seasons due to his positional flexibility and his style of play. Before signing a minor-league deal with the Twins in the 2022-23 offseason, Castro played in parts of four seasons with the division rival Detroit Tigers, accumulating 0.2 bWAR while hitting .245/.292/.381, which was good for a below-average 87 OPS+.

Once Castro came to Minnesota, something appeared to click and he began to have more success not only at the plate, but he earned more and more playing time and became a key part of the division winning 2023 club.

Castro had a .750 OPS — or restated: a 105 OPS+ in his first year in Minnesota. Not only was he slightly above average at the plate, but he also stole 33 bases in 38 tries and played six different defensive positions, not including when he got on the mound three times.

During this breakout year, Castro was worth 2.7 bWAR.

Castro was a key part of Rocco Baldelli's plans on a day-in and day-out basis in 2024, appearing in 158 games during the season. Castro earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, and finished the year with a 102 OPS+ and 14 stolen bases in 23 tries.

While he wasn't quite as prolific of a base stealer, Castro was even more versatile, playing 25 games at five different positions, which was the first time in major league history that a player did this.

Castro has proven to be one of baseball's most valuable super-utility players over the past two seasons and will likely be part of Baldelli's lineup most days in 2025. Castro's projections for 2025 are similar to his past two years, which is valuable for the coaching staff in that he can play many different positions.

ZiPS projects Castro for a slash line of .244/.317/.384 and Baseball Reference projects him for a .249/.324/.390 slash line.

With looking at those projection systems, along with others, one can expect Castro to be a slightly above average hitter, provide value defensively in up to five or six different positions, and steal some bases as well.

Castro's value goes well beyond what his stat line says. He provides insurance for injury in many spots and has the ability to hit in various spots in the lineup depending on who else is in the lineup that day.

Expect to see a lot of Willi Castro this year.

You may just have to scan the field a time or two to figure out what position he may be playing that day.