The Pirates have found a bright spot in the dirt, and Jesus Castillo’s glove is the reason his name is starting to travel.
Pittsburgh named the infielder its Bill Mazeroski Defender of the Year, the organization’s top defensive honor in the farm system. That matters for a player still waiting on his major league debut, especially after rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin took home the award in 2025 and paired it with an MiLB Gold Glove Award.
Castillo spent 2026 moving all over the diamond and holding his own. He appeared in 100 games across five levels in the Pirates’ minor league system, with most of that work coming at Double-A Altoona, where he played 67 games, and Triple-A Indianapolis, where he logged 25. In all, he saw time at seven positions, with only pitcher and catcher off limits.
The numbers back up the reputation. Castillo made just nine errors in 288 chances, good for a .969 fielding percentage in 2026.
For Castillo, the willingness to move around has become part of the job description. He said he no longer worries about locking himself into one spot and instead leans into whatever the team asks of him.
"It was a mental adjustment that I made because at some point, I wanted to play any specific position, but I know that I had the tools, I had the skills to do it, but it’s more like the willingness to do it," Castillo said through interpreter Jose Coralles.
"Just having that attitude and being ready, no matter where I am in the lineup, I'm gonna be ready and willing to play in that position. So it was a mental position that I made to be prepared for every position."
His approach has been shaped by players he admired growing up, especially Freddy Galvis. Castillo pointed to the former Phillies shortstop as a model for the way he handled the defensive side of the game.
"Freddy Galvis is somebody that I looked up to when I was younger because of the same," Castillo said. "We have similar tools, and he took a lot of pride in his defense.
So the way he prepared, the way he approached every inning, the preparation he had in every pitch. That's why I admired him so much right now."
The jump to Triple-A was another turning point. Castillo reached that level for the first time in 2026, and he said the older players there, especially the ones with major league experience, helped him sharpen his game and push toward the award.
It has taken six seasons in the Pirates’ farm system, but Castillo is finally seeing signs that the work is paying off. The next hurdle is the bat.
Offensively, the results have lagged behind the glove. In 444 minor league games, Castillo is hitting .242/.356/.290 with a .646 OPS.
His 2026 line was .264/.333/.345 with a .678 OPS. He did show some pop this year, hitting five home runs after managing only three total across his first five seasons.
Castillo said the gains at the plate came from the work he put in last winter. His listed weight is 195 pounds, and he said that was a byproduct of getting stronger and adding power.
“I think all this came from the offseason, all the work I put in the offseason," Castillo said. I worked a lot to gain more weight, to get stronger, to get more power.
In the past, I was trying more to just put the ball in play. This year, I was going to home plate trying to damage.
So I think that’s what changed this year and the positive impact I had offensively as well.”
He’s carrying that momentum into winter ball, where he is playing for Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Professional League. Castillo is also set to represent Venezuela at the U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua from Nov. 6-15 before returning to the United States to get ready for 2027.
"Playing with the Winter Ball team. Right now, I'm preparing to represent Venezuela, the U-23 [team], in Nicaragua. I'm very proud of being part of a Venezuelan national team because it has been a dream of mine since I was younger.
"So I'm very excited about this opportunity, and after the tournament, I'm gonna head home to the U.S., and I'm gonna prepare similar to what he did last year.
"I'm gonna focus, work with my trainers, with my dad, and focus more on my body and offensive side and defensive side because I believe the last offseason was one of the best I've had so far in my career, so I want to do something similar after I finish competing with Venezuela."
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