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Twins reportedly very excited about 23-year-old Eiberson Castellano

Castellano was a Rule 5 pick from the Phillies and is raising eyebrows with his strikeout rate and three-pitch mix.

Joe Nelson

Feb 18, 2025; Lee County, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Eiberson Castellano (63) warming up in the bullpen during spring training at the Lee Health Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images
Feb 18, 2025; Lee County, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Eiberson Castellano (63) warming up in the bullpen during spring training at the Lee Health Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images / Chris Tilley-Imagn Images
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While most of the talk about Twins prospects is centered on Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall, another player to monitor for a potential breakout season in 2025 is right-handed pitcher Eiberson Castellano.

The 23-year-old right-handed was labeled by MLB.com as a Twins prospect to watch this spring, and the write-up about him from prospect insiders Jonathan Mayor, Jim Callis and Sam Dykstra hints at a very bright future.

"The Twins think they may have something more exciting than the typical Rule 5 pick in Castellano. Taken in the Major League phase from the Phillies in December, Castellano has a very strong three-pitch mix, missing a lot of bats with both his slider and changeup," they wrote.

"He might ease in as a reliever, but especially if the strike-throwing improvements he made in 2024 are for real, he has the goods to start in the future."

The MLB Pipeline scouting report describes him as a "big physical right-hander with a legitimate three-pitch mix."

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Castellano's fastball runs in the mid-90s and he couples it with a strong changeup. The scouting reports notes that "some scouts also really like his curve and think it could develop into an out pitch as a low-80s breaker with power and depth."

Last season with the Phillies A+ and AA squads, Castellano struck out 136 batters in 103.2 innings. He posted a 3.99 ERA with strikeout and walk rates of 31.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Twenty of his 22 appearances came as a starter.

Because Castellano was a Rule 5 pick, the Twins have to place him on waivers if he doesn't make the 26-man regular-season roster. If he clears waivers, the Twins have to give the Phillies a chance to buy him back for $50,000. If the Phillies were to decline, only then could the Twins send Castellano to the minors to develop.

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Joe Nelson has more than 20 years of experience in Minnesota sports journalism. Nelson began his career in sports radio, working at smaller stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before moving to the highly-rated KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. While there, he produced the popular mid-morning show hosted by Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. His time in radio laid the groundwork for his transition to sports writing in 2011. He covers the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers and Twins for On SI.

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