Seattle Mariners’ starting pitcher Luis Castillo had to take on an unexpected role on Sunday during their game against the Minnesota Twins, stepping in as a batter after catcher Mitch Garver was hit on the wrist, leading to a significant reshuffling of the Mariners’ lineup in their 5-3 loss.
With Cal Raleigh, Seattle’s other catcher, already in the lineup as the designated hitter, the Mariners forfeited the DH spot when Raleigh moved behind the plate in the third inning. This forced Castillo to bat, marking his first plate appearance since October 1, 2021, when he was with Cincinnati. Castillo struck out looking on three pitches, never swinging the bat.
“I just listened to what they told me and took the pitches,” Castillo said through an interpreter after the game. “It’s been a while since I stood there and saw a pitch that close to me. I followed the orders they gave me, and that’s what I did up there.”
Castillo became the first pitcher to step to the plate at T-Mobile Park since Oakland’s Jason Hammel in 2014 and just the third Mariners pitcher to bat in a home game in franchise history. He is one of only two pitchers in baseball to make a plate appearance this season, joining Arizona’s Scott McGough, who struck out in a loss to the New York Yankees on April 3.
Seattle manager Scott Servais emphasized the importance of keeping Castillo safe, noting, “Luis hasn’t had a bat in his hands for a couple of years. There is so much baseball yet, and we need him to be a key player for us on the mound. You have to be really careful there.”
Due to the lineup changes, Castillo only pitched five innings, being lifted for pinch-hitter Ryan Bliss with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Castillo allowed three runs on six hits, struck out three, and threw only 77 pitches.
“You have to understand the situation,” Castillo said. “It was tough, but you have to understand it.”
Garver sustained a right wrist contusion after being hit by a fastball from Minnesota starter Joe Ryan in the second inning. Although he stayed in the game to run, he was replaced by Raleigh at the start of the next inning. X-rays were negative.
Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli, who previously managed Garver with the Twins, expressed his concern, “That is a terrible thing for any team to have to deal with. I would probably tell my pitcher the exact same thing, just go up there and stand back, maybe they walk you.”
Seattle had recently designated Seby Zavala, their third catcher, for assignment, leaving only Garver and Raleigh as the available catchers on the roster.
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