Adrian Del Castillo named Pacific Coast League MVP

Adrian Del Castillo was named the Pacific Coast League MVP, voted on by Minor League Baseball, after an exceptional season at the plate for the Reno Aces.

Castillo, while in Triple-A, did not miss a single game with the Aces. He tallied 249 total bases and posted a .312 batting average. In 105 games, he racked up 129 hits, scored 90 runs, and smashed 26 home runs.

While his MVP selection was based on his Triple-A contributions, Del Castillo also made an impact in the big leagues during his 25-game stint with the Diamondbacks. Shortly after his MLB debut, he hit a walk-off home run, then followed up with three more homers over the next few weeks. He ended his rookie year in Arizona with an impressive .313 batting average.

Del Castillo is the fourth player in the Diamondbacks‘ system to win PCL MVP honors, joining the likes of Adam Eaton, Andy Green, and Chris Owings. Despite his success, Del Castillo isn’t currently listed in the top-10 of Arizona’s MLB Pipeline prospect rankings, sitting at 14th overall.

His efforts helped the Aces, who boasted the top offense in the minors, reach the Pacific Coast League championship. Although they fell to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Del Castillo’s season was a key part of the team’s success. Looking ahead to 2025, Del Castillo is expected to serve as the Diamondbacks’ primary backup catcher behind Gabriel Moreno.