John Castino
Encyclopedia
John Anthony Castino is a former Major League Baseball
player. Castino played as an infielder
, primarily at third base
and second base, with the Minnesota Twins
from 1979 through 1984.
in Winnetka. Castino attended and played baseball for Rollins College
, located in Winter Park, Florida
. He is considered the best player in Rollins history.
After college, Castino was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1976 amateur draft. Castino made his major league debut with the Twins on April 6, 1979. He played well and ended the season with a .285 batting average
and 112 hits
in 148 games. His performance led him to be voted as Rookie of the Year, along with Alfredo Griffin
, who he tied in voting.
The next season, Castino hit a career-high .302. A good fielder, he switched to second base in 1982 and led the league's second basemen in fielding percentage
that year. However, Castino started to suffer from chronic back pain
, and his career was cut short in 1984 by a fused disc in his back. He played his final game with the Twins on May 7, 1984.
After his baseball career ended, Castino went back to college to get his degree and later became an investment advisor. In 2010, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in Minnesota Twins history.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. Castino played as an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, primarily at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
and second base, with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from 1979 through 1984.
Professional career
Castino graduated from New Trier High SchoolNew Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
in Winnetka. Castino attended and played baseball for Rollins College
Rollins College
Rollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia....
, located in Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Winter Park is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,090 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 28,083. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He is considered the best player in Rollins history.
After college, Castino was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1976 amateur draft. Castino made his major league debut with the Twins on April 6, 1979. He played well and ended the season with a .285 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and 112 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 148 games. His performance led him to be voted as Rookie of the Year, along with Alfredo Griffin
Alfredo Griffin
Alfredo Claudino Griffin is a former Major League Baseball player, who played shortstop for four teams from 1976 to 1993. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
, who he tied in voting.
The next season, Castino hit a career-high .302. A good fielder, he switched to second base in 1982 and led the league's second basemen in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
that year. However, Castino started to suffer from chronic back pain
Back pain
Back pain is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.The pain can often be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain...
, and his career was cut short in 1984 by a fused disc in his back. He played his final game with the Twins on May 7, 1984.
After his baseball career ended, Castino went back to college to get his degree and later became an investment advisor. In 2010, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in Minnesota Twins history.
External links
- John Castino at Baseball Library
- John Castino at Wealth Enhancement Group