As first reported by the colleague Francys Romero, outfielder Rusney Castillo will return to Cuba this winter to play in the Liga Élite and the upcoming Serie Nacional with the Cocodrilos de Matanzas. The ex-big leaguer returns to the country’s circuit for the first time since 2013 with his natal Tigres de Ciego de Ávila.
The once five-tool Castillo decided to leave Cuba in 2013 in search of a major league contract and made news when he received the biggest contract given to a Cuban defector when he signed a 7-year 72 million dollar deal with the Boston Red Sox. Castillo played three years in majors with BoSox hitting .262 with seven homeruns and 35 RBIs in 99 games with the American League squad.
El ex-Grandes Ligas, Rusney Castillo, está muy cerca de volver al béisbol de Cuba.
Aunque aún se encuentra en conversaciones varias fuentes me aseguraron que participará en la próxima Serie Élite y la Serie Nacional.
Detalles en: https://t.co/MdJNwQ7qyo
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) September 20, 2023
After his time with Massachusetts’ finest he went on to sign a minor league deal with Washington Nationals but was released before actually suiting up with the team from the nation’s capital. Upon his release he was then inked by the Rakuten Eagles of the Nippon League where he hit a paltry .225 in 33 games with the big squad.
Castillo then went on to see action with Long Island Ducks and Staten Island Ferryhawks in 2022. Last season the 36-year-old played in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Mariachis de Guadalajara batting a solid .279 in 13 games. The slugger looks to resurrect a career that seems to be nearing its end by displaying his talents in the antillean circuit.
During his time in the Serie Nacional he slashed .315/.380/.501/.881, went downtown 42, knocked in 192 runs and stole 68 bases. Castillo also saw action with the national squad in the 2011 Baseball World Cup and the Pan American Games that same year. Other players that have returned to the Serie Nacional/Liga Élite after signing with MLB organizations are Yadir Drake, Erisbel Arruebarruena, Rubi Silva, Roberto Baldoquín and Robert Hernández to name a few.