José Gregorio Castillo Tovar is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The left-handed reliever has competed at the major league level in the United States, Mexico, and Japan during a professional career that began in 2012. Castillo has appeared in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2018 and has represented Venezuela internationally at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Castillo is known for his durable bullpen presence and ability to record strikeouts in high-leverage situations.
José Gregorio Castillo Tovar Bio
José Gregorio Castillo Tovar was born on January 10, 1996, and hails from Venezuela. He grew up developing his baseball skills in his home country before signing his first professional contract at age 16. Castillo began his professional career in the minor leagues of the United States in 2012 after signing with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent. His journey through professional baseball has taken him across multiple organizations and countries, establishing him as a respected professional pitcher in international baseball.
Early Life and Background
Castillo was born and raised in Venezuela, where he developed his passion and skills for baseball from a young age. The left-handed pitcher committed to professional baseball early, signing with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent on July 6, 2012, at just 16 years old. This early start in professional baseball set the foundation for his future career in the sport.
Path to Professional Baseball
After signing with Tampa Bay, Castillo began his professional career in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2013. He posted a 2-2 record with a 5.87 earned run average in 12 games during his debut season. Castillo returned to the Gulf Coast League Rays in 2014, recording a 3.86 ERA with four strikeouts across four and two-thirds innings pitched. These early developmental seasons helped him refine his pitching mechanics and prepare for advancement to higher levels of minor league baseball.
José Gregorio Castillo Tovar Career
Early Career with Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres (2012–2017)
On December 19, 2014, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Castillo, Wil Myers, Ryan Hanigan, and Gerardo Reyes to the San Diego Padres in exchange for René Rivera, Burch Smith, and Jake Bauers. This trade marked a significant opportunity for Castillo as he joined a new organization with clearer advancement paths. He split the 2015 season between the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils and Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, accumulating a 4-2 record and 3.74 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 79 and one-third innings pitched across 19 appearances. Castillo continued his development in 2016, splitting the season between Tri-City, Fort Wayne, and the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm. In 20 relief appearances across these three affiliates, he posted a cumulative 2-2 record and an impressive 2.03 ERA with 49 strikeouts and two saves over 40 innings of work.
MLB Debut and San Diego Padres Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Castillo was selected to represent Venezuela at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, gaining valuable international experience. He split the regular season between Lake Elsinore and the Double-A San Antonio Missions, accumulating a 4-2 record and 2.88 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 47 relief appearances. Following this strong season, the Padres added Castillo to their 40-man roster on November 21, 2017, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He received his major league call-up and made his MLB debut on June 2, 2018, for the San Diego Padres. In his debut appearance, Castillo retired all nine batters he faced and recorded three strikeouts, including strikeouts of Cincinnati Reds All-Stars Joey Votto and Eugenio Suárez. He ended the 2018 season with a 3-3 record, a 3.29 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 37 relief appearances, establishing himself as a reliable option in the Padres bullpen.
San Diego Padres Return and Miami Marlins (2022–2023)
Castillo began the 2019 season on the 60-day injured list due to a left flexor strain. He appeared in only two-thirds of an inning for the Padres in 2019, allowing no runs and striking out two batters, before suffering a left middle finger injury that ended his season on the injured list. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic shortened 2020 season, Castillo missed the entire year because of a left lat strain and torn hand ligament. On March 4, 2021, he required Tommy John surgery after exiting a simulated game because of forearm tightness. On November 30, 2021, the Padres non-tendered Castillo, making him a free agent. He re-signed with San Diego on January 14, 2022, and had his contract selected on August 23. Castillo signed another one-year contract with the Padres before the 2023 season, avoiding arbitration. He began 2023 with Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, where he struggled with a 9.82 ERA in 22 appearances. Following one appearance for San Diego, the Padres designated Castillo for assignment on July 20, 2023. On July 25, 2023, he was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations. He was removed from the Marlins 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on August 10, 2023.
2025 MLB Season: A Journey Through Five Organizations
The 2025 season proved to be one of the most eventful of Castillo’s career as he played for four different Major League Baseball teams. On November 27, 2023, Castillo had signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made 21 appearances for Triple-A Reno Aces in 2024, compiling a 4.35 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 20 and two-thirds innings pitched. After electing free agency, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks on November 27, 2024. Castillo began the 2025 season with Triple-A Reno, recording a 1.69 ERA with seven strikeouts over his first five games. The Diamondbacks selected his contract on May 1, 2025, adding him to their active roster. In five appearances for Arizona, he struggled to an 11.37 ERA with three strikeouts across six and one-third innings pitched. The Diamondbacks designated Castillo for assignment on May 12. On May 15, 2025, the New York Mets acquired him in a trade. Castillo appeared in 13 games for New York, posting an 0-1 record and a 2.38 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 11 and one-third innings pitched. The Mets designated him for assignment on June 25, and he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on June 29. He returned to the Mets roster on July 25 but was designated for assignment again on July 27. After clearing waivers and being sent outright to Syracuse on July 31, the Mets selected his contract back to the major league roster on August 25. The Mets designated him for assignment a third time on August 30.
Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles (2025)
On September 3, 2025, Castillo was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners. He made three scoreless appearances for Seattle, striking out one and recording one win across three innings pitched. The Mariners designated him for assignment on September 12. On September 15, 2025, the Baltimore Orioles claimed him off waivers. In five appearances for the Orioles to close the 2025 season, Castillo recorded a 2.45 ERA with seven strikeouts across seven and one-third innings pitched.
Chiba Lotte Marines and Current Status
Following the conclusion of the 2025 MLB season, Castillo signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball on November 30, 2025. This move to Japan’s premier baseball league marks a new chapter in his career, providing him with an opportunity to compete at a high level in a different baseball culture. The NPB offers Castillo roster stability and a chance to establish himself with a single organization as he continues his professional career beyond Major League Baseball.
José Gregorio Castillo Tovar Career Highlights
Throughout his professional career, Castillo has accumulated notable statistics and achievements across multiple leagues and international competitions. His ability to record strikeouts and manage high-pressure situations has been a consistent trait throughout his career.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Castillo made his major league debut on June 2, 2018, with an exceptional performance, retiring all nine batters he faced and recording three strikeouts. His standout debut included strikeouts of Cincinnati Reds All-Stars Joey Votto and Eugenio Suárez. In his rookie season, Castillo went 3-3 with a 3.29 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 37 relief appearances. Over his MLB career, Castillo has compiled a 5-5 win-loss record with a 4.11 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 65 major league games. His international achievement includes representing Venezuela at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, where he competed against the world’s best national teams.
Other Notable Performances
Throughout his minor league career spanning 2013 through 2017, Castillo demonstrated consistent ability to record strikeouts and maintain respectable earned run averages. His best minor league season came in 2016, when he posted a 2.03 ERA with 49 strikeouts and two saves across 40 innings of work. In 2017 before his MLB debut, Castillo recorded a 2.88 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 47 relief appearances between High-A Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio.
| Competition Level | Games | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (career) | 65 | 5 | 5 | 4.11 | 85 |
José Gregorio Castillo Tovar Personal Background
Nationality and Venezuelan Heritage
Castillo holds Venezuelan nationality and was born in Venezuela on January 10, 1996. His Venezuelan heritage has been a defining aspect of his baseball identity, leading to his selection to represent Venezuela at the international level. The development of baseball talent in Venezuela has produced many professional players, and Castillo represents the continuation of that tradition.
2025 Season Performance Review
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Castillo as he navigated through four different Major League Baseball organizations within a single season. After beginning the year with Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks system, Castillo received a major league call-up in early May. His time with the Diamondbacks was brief, as he struggled with an elevated 11.37 ERA across five appearances before being designated for assignment. The New York Mets acquired him in mid-May and provided Castillo with more consistent opportunities. He responded with improved results, posting a 2.38 ERA across 13 relief appearances with 14 strikeouts in 11 and one-third innings. The volatility of his roster status continued with the Mets, as he was designated for assignment, sent outright, recalled, and designated again multiple times throughout the summer. His journey continued with brief stints with Seattle and Baltimore, where he continued to perform effectively out of the bullpen. Castillo finished the season strong with the Orioles, recording a 2.45 ERA in five appearances. The cumulative experience of playing for multiple organizations in one season demonstrated his resilience and adaptability. His late-season signing with Chiba Lotte Marines provides him with roster stability and a fresh start as he looks to establish himself in Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season and beyond.