TAMPA, Fla. - Kervin Castro is turning heads in Yankees camp, and it's not just with his fastball.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone summed it up perfectly: "Kervin's got my attention." And it's easy to see why.
Castro, a right-handed reliever, delivered another scoreless outing on Saturday, pitching 1 1/3 innings in a 6-4 loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
This Venezuelan pitcher might not be a household name yet, but he's certainly making his case among a talented pool of candidates vying for the Yankees' bullpen spots.
"Elite human being," bullpen coach Preston Claiborne said, highlighting Castro's bulldog mentality on the mound.
At 27, Castro has been lights out this spring. Over six outings, he hasn't allowed an earned run, striking out five and walking just two, while conceding only three hits.
On Saturday, his fastball averaged 94.2 mph, peaking at 95.6 mph. After entering with two outs in the seventh, he struck out a batter swinging, navigated a throwing error, and induced weak contact to wrap up the inning.
Boone praised Castro's ability to generate weak contact, noting his fastball and cutter are in top form. "He's done a good job," Boone said. "I think he can be a factor for us."
Castro's journey to this point hasn't been easy. Originally signed as a catcher by the Giants in 2015, he was converted to a pitcher and underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017.
He made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2021, and had stints with the Cubs in 2022. A second Tommy John surgery in 2023 while with the Astros could have derailed his career, but the Yankees saw potential, selecting him in the Rule 5 draft.
Reflecting on his path, Castro acknowledged the mental struggles but credited Yankees coaches for their support. "I've learned to think less and attack hitters," he said.
The Yankees bullpen is competitive, with six likely locks and several others, including Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest, vying for spots. Castro remains in the mix, having impressed in various situations, including a recent game where he delivered another scoreless 1 1/3 innings, sandwiched between two flamethrowers.
"We've put him in different situations to test him, and he's passed every test so far," Claiborne said.
Kervin Castro is quietly making his mark, and if he keeps this up, he might just find himself a spot in the Bronx.