As Miguel Castro’s audition for a spot in the Orioles’ starting rotation moves towards its final few acts, more attention will be paid to how well the lanky 23-year-old right-hander sustains his arsenal as his pitch count escalates.
The Orioles believe that Castro and his three-pitch mix can make the transition from multi-inning reliever into a starting role, and much of his spring training push will have to do with him showing he can physically make that adjustment.
Making his second Grapefruit League start of the season – before that he made his spring debut in a B-game – Castro reached the 69-pitch plateau, tying the most pitches he’s thrown in his major league career, against the New York Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.