The Chicago Cubs clipped two more guys from the Spring roster, and although Starlin Castro will get all the headlines, it was the other guy who actually had a shot to make the big club.
The Cubs trimmed two more players Saturday and sent highly touted shortstop Starlin Castro and outfielder Brad Snyder to the Minor League camp. Castro hit .423 this spring, Snyder hit .313.
“I felt good with the experience, first time being up here,” Castro said. “I’m going to go down there and work hard and try to get back up here as soon as possible.”
Castro, who turns 20 on Wednesday, used Geovany Soto as his interpreter but when asked if he felt he was ready to play in the big leagues, he didn’t need help with his answer.
“I’m ready,” Castro said. “I’m ready to play in the big leagues.”
Lou Piniella was impressed.
“Castro had a phenomenal spring for a young player,” Piniella said. “Nineteen years old, to come in here and look like a veteran and swing the bat. He showed his athleticism. He came in here highly touted and left here even more touted.” Muskat Ramblings.
If Castro continues to hit and play the field as well as he does, don’t be surprised if the Cubs bring him up halfway through the season, and slide Ryan Theriot over to second base. Of course, if whoever is playing second base is doing a great job, that could complicate things.
As for Snyder, he had an outside shot of making the Cubs’ bench as a reserve outfielder. He hit well enough, but in the end, the Cubs are determined to carry a guy like Kevin Millar, and doing so means that having an extra outfielder won’t be possible.