Ex-Red Sox Bust Officially Drafted Into Brand New Baseball League After Rollercoaster Career
One former member of the Boston Red Sox has found himself a new home in a new baseball league.
There's a brand-new baseball league set to kick off in 2023 called Baseball United. The league currently has four teams across three countries. There is one team in India, one team in Pakistan, and two teams in the United Arab Emirates. The league held its inaugural draft Monday afternoon and some familiar names were taken.
The two most surprising players taken without a doubt were former New York Yankees star Robinson Canó and journeyman hurler Bartolo Colón. There were some other familiar players taken, as well, including former Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo.
The 36-year-old signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2014 to a massive seven-year, $72.5 million deal. He began his big league career the same year but appeared in just 10 games with the Red Sox and clubbed two home runs with six RBIs. He joined the Red Sox with plenty of hype surrounding him but he appeared in just 99 total games with Boston across three seasons and hit seven home runs and slashed .262/.301/.379.
He spent most of his time in the Boston organization in the minor leagues with the then Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Castillo was exceptional with Pawtucket and in five seasons launched 42 home runs, drove in 217 runs, and slashed .293/.335/.425 but wasn't able to carry it over to the big leagues. Plus, throughout the duration of Castillo's time in Boston there typically was an outfield logjam leaving him without a spot for the most part.
Castillo became a free agent at the end of the 2019 season and signed abroad. He now will join the Abu Dhabi Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of Monday's draft.
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