Padres sign two international prospects before deadline
Credit: Padres DSL
The San Diego Padres signed two young Latino players a day before the October 15 deadline.
A strong farm system just got better as the San Diego Padres added two young players.
Wilton Castillo, a right-handed pitcher out of Cuba, and Jake Correa, a shortstop out of Costa Rica, signed deals with the club this week.
East Village Times reported the signing of Castillo several months back, and it became official on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8 pitcher is already blessed with a 90-92 mph fastball, but there is the thought that he can improve velocity in time. The Padres are eager to work with him on mechanics and such. The thin pitcher will also need to put on some weight to get the most out of his abilities on the mound.
Reports are that Castillo signed for $10,000 and should start the 2021 season in the DSL. Provided there is a season in the Dominican Republic. because of COVID-19.
The Padres are aggressive in the international market, and, in time, Castillo could be a factor for a very deep Padres’ farm system. The tall right-handed pitcher is not considered a top prospect, but there is much to like with his upside. He could blossom with better coaching.
Castillo has plus arm speed and shows decent athleticism.
The international market continues to move. The current int’l signing period (2019-20) ends Oct 15. The #Padres just signed 6-ft-8 RHP Wilton Castillo, 20, of Cuba and SS Jake Correa (20) of Costa Rica. Both will report to DR Instructs. @MLBPipeline @AJCassavell pic.twitter.com/1eiQQHnYgO
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) October 14, 2020
Correa is a shortstop out of Costa Rica. There is not much information about him currently. The 20-year-old is an older prospect and could be viewed as minor league depth at this point. The Padres are obviously set at the shortstop position for a long time. Fernando Tatis Jr. is only one year older than Correa and entrenched in the position.
A.J. Preller does his homework, and his baseball team deserves praise for their efforts. Chris Kemp, in particular, is always visiting new countries in search of relevant minor league talent that could one day become polished enough to play in the Major Leagues. These two signings are not headlined news, but acquisitions like this are positive for a young franchise attempting to grow.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.