HOUSTON -- Astros catcher Jason Castro has watched the franchise's rebuilding project from the start. The former first-round pick made his Major League debut on June 22, 2010, and saw every player who was in the lineup that day eventually get traded as the Astros moved to get younger.
Castro sat through three consecutive 100-loss seasons, crouching behind the plate admirably while pitchers got roughed up and games dragged on. He never complained publicly and always said the right thing, something he continues to do as he and the Astros appear to be headed for an arbitration hearing scheduled for Feb.