I first saw Eiberson pitch in 2021 Fall Instructs - he was part of a very talented group of pitchers up from the Dominican Summer League (Jean Cabrera, Jaydenn Estanista, Estibenzon Jimenez & Guisseppe Velasquez) that had just won the San Pedro Division title. It didn’t take long to realize that he had the skillset to advance up the ladder. Scouts were already aware of his capabilities, in fact some teams targeted his outings the following spring … and still do.
He’s currently on the best run of his career - the now 23 year old is coming off of a very strong July winning the organization’s pitcher of the month award - August has been even stronger - in four starts he’s recorded a 1.64 ERA (22 IP) with 32 K’s and just 5 walks. Batters have hit just .162 against him and his WHIP for the month is 0.82. In two months at Reading he has posted a 2.18 ERA in six starts at the AA level in 33 IP with 43 K’s and 8 walks, a 0.879 WHIP. Promoted from High A Jersey Shore on 7/16/24 his overall season stats reflect a 6-3 record in 20 appearances (18 starts) with a 3.46 ERA in 96.1 IP - 129 K’s and 28 walks - a 1.11 WHIP and a 12.1 K/9 average.
To state that his current run of success is a surprise to baseball folks is a misnomer - in fact to many observers it has been long anticipated. The young man has size (6’3”), an electric arm and a power breaking pitch that is a put away offering. Often times patience in regard to learning and growth is perhaps the most important element in player development coupled with both a coaching and player dedication to drive potential to fruition.
Eiberson was signed as an international free agent on 7/2/18 from Maracaibo, Venezuela as a seventeen year old. He didn’t pitch in a formal DSL league game till the 2021 season with the 2020 season lost to Covid. He did make a couple 2020 appearances for Zulia in the Venezuela Winter League. For the Phillies White DSL team in 2021 he posted a. 1.09 ERA in 16 appearances (33 IP) with 36 strikeouts and 16 walks. He pitched in the 2021 Venezuelan Winter League for Zulia appearing in five games after a strong showing in 2021 Fall Instructs. After beginning the 2022 season in extended spring training he was assigned to the Clearwater Threshers on 5/6/22 and made 17 appearances (8 starts) posting a 3.51 ERA in 51.1 IP with 61 strikeouts.
His arrival in 2023 spring camp was highly anticipated however conditioning became a concern along with a downturn in velocity - he didn’t get assigned to the Threshers roster till 6/9/23 spending the initial months in extended spring training camp. After being assigned to the Threshers he appeared in 22 games (7 starts) posting a 5.04 ERA in 50 IP with 58 K’s. He told me that his experience with the 2023 Threshers team impacted him in that “it caught my attention and amazed me to see the great team that we had - the encouragement of each of us in the club house was impressive. For everything we were always united. I had never had in my career in baseball this experience with a wonderful team like the one we had.”
Castellano requested and was granted permission to pitch extended innings in the 2023 Venezuelan Winter League and he made his most extensive VWL impact to date - he appeared in 18 games (1 start) for Zulia and posted a very solid 2.66 ERA in 20.1 IP with 24 K’s.
I recently asked Phillies Minor League Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert about Eiberson and he shared this “he is still fairly young and due to the Covid year in 2020, like a lot of our young pitchers, lost out on some valuable game development and innings that season. In 2023 Spring Training Casty’s velo was significantly down from what it had typically been. We decided to put him in an intense weight room and velocity development throwing program during extended spring training. We did regain his velocity however, the command wasn’t to the standard we felt he could be at. After the season we granted him the opportunity to go play winter ball to take his improved velo and go pitch with it. He came back this spring and turned some heads and has since carried that into this season. He is arguably one the most improved pitchers in our organization this season.”
Coach Hergert told me that Eiberson features both a four seam and two seam fastball in the 93-96 mph range which has been up to 97 mph. He has a power slurve in the low 80’s and is continuing to develop a change up. I asked Eiberson today what has kept him consistent this season - he said “keeping my mind positive and competitive.” I asked how confident he was in his pitches - he replied “I feel that I can throw each of them in any count or situation of the game, any pitch.” In regards to the balance of this season and beyond he said “ I will keep working hard, that’s my mentality now.”
It’s gratifying to see to see talent develop - especially when knowing the effort that’s required. Eiberson Castellano has the skillset to hopefully someday contribute at the major league level. He still has a ways to go but the past two months certainly indicate there’s an ability to do so - actually I should say that’s been evident all along, he’s a good young man - we are pulling for him to continue to excel - that’s what the village of support does - just sayin 🤓.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Eiberson Castellano - photo by George Youngs Jr
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