Just one day after announcing 22 international free agent signings — including three players ranked in MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects — the Kansas City Royals made another move. On January 18, the Royals revealed on social media that they had signed utility player Harold Castro to a minor league contract and extended an invite to spring training for the 31-year-old.
Castro’s new deal with the Royals marks his return to the U.S. after spending the 2024 season in the Mexican League. He had struggled with career-low statistics in the previous year with the Colorado Rockies. Now aiming to secure a spot on the Royals’ 40-man roster and revive his MLB career, the former Detroit Tigers utility player enters spring training with something to prove.
Harold Castro’s Journey to the Royals
Castro was initially signed by the Detroit Tigers in 2010 as a 16-year-old. After spending two seasons with the Tigers’ Venezuelan summer league team, he worked his way through the minors and made his MLB debut on September 23, 2018. At the end of that season, Castro was sent back to Triple-A and later elected free agency. However, he re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league deal shortly thereafter.
Between 2018 and 2022, Castro accumulated 1215 plate appearances over 351 MLB games with Detroit, posting a .284/.309/.377 line, with 15 home runs and 125 RBIs. After being non-tendered at the end of 2022, he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies for the 2023 season, where he was quickly called up to the majors.
In 2023, Castro had a disappointing season with the Rockies, recording a .252/.275/.314 line in 270 plate appearances, with just 1 home run and 31 RBIs. He was later outrighted to Triple-A, but rejected the assignment and became a free agent. On February 8, 2024, he signed with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League, where he posted a solid .320/.366/.447 line with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs over 363 plate appearances.
The Royals announced Castro’s signing to a minor league contract with an invite to major league Spring Training on January 18, 2025.
Castro’s Goal: A Return to the MLB
Coming off a strong offseason performance in the Venezuelan Winter League, Castro is focused on reclaiming his MLB career. His minor league deal with the Royals is his first step toward that goal.
As spring training approaches, Castro will compete with newly-acquired Cavan Biggio for a utility role on the major league roster. Both left-handed hitters have experience in multiple positions — Castro has played everywhere except catcher, while Biggio has seen time at first base, second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. Either could provide valuable bench depth for the Royals in 2025. There’s also the possibility that Castro or Biggio could step into a starting role in the outfield, which still needs offensive improvement. If third baseman Maikel Garcia doesn’t improve offensively, there could also be room for a platoon at third base.
With everything to prove, Castro has a lot to gain this spring, just like Biggio. The battle for a bench spot with the Royals is one to watch closely.
