© AMANDA LOMAN / For | 2019 Jun 15
Kervin Castro, a converted catcher turned pitcher, has joined the Giants in Denver for the Rockies series.
In a corresponding move, the Giants optioned Jay Jackson to Triple-A Sacramento. Jackson struggled in the weekend’s Dodgers series, failing to complete an inning in both of his two appearances. He recorded one out as Saturday’s opener, then allowed a hit and a walk in SF’s finale win.
Castro, 22, has had a somewhat remarkable rise through the Giants’ farm system. He’s recorded a 2.86 ERA for the River Cats in 2021 as the team’s most inexperienced arm. Before this year, the highest level Castro pitched at was high-A. He’s only pitched 133.2 professional innings.
This year, Castro has allowed three home runs in 44 innings at Triple-A, indicating he doesn’t allow too much hard contact. He also misses bats, striking out 60 hitters on the year. Castro does walk his fair share of batters, though, recording 4.5 walks per nine.
San Francisco could use all the bullpen help it can get, as it’s coming off two consecutive games without a traditional starter. The Giants used eight pitchers in Saturday’s 6-1 loss, then nine in their 6-4 victory the next day.
The Giants signed Castro in July 2015 for $100,000 when he was 16 years old. Now he could make his big league debut as soon as Monday in Coors Field.
