Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez revealed Friday that catcher Welington Castillo declined the invitation to join the team’s 60-man player pool and opted out of the season.
Castillo is the third Nationals player to opt out, following first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and starting pitcher Joe Ross.
“I talked to [Castillo] and he decided that he wasn’t going to come,” Martinez said.”He’s got two little kids and his wife in the Dominican [Republic[. I don’t hold anything against those guys. They have family.”
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said that the team invited their first-round pick in the 2020 draft, pitcher Cade Cavalli, to join their player pool.