As the Rockies take on the Astros in the 2024 Mexico City Series this weekend, Vinny Castilla is a legend coming home.
Colorado Rockies coach Vinny Castilla blows a big bubble during the teams workout on day 8 of spring training February 28, 2015 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
That was the humble genesis of an MLB career that eventually led to two All-Star nods and three Silver Sluggers with Colorado. Of course, his 16-year big-league career, 13 of which were spent with the Braves and the Rockies, could’ve looked a lot different had Castilla been signed by another club. But when the Braves left him unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft — holding onto current CU football coach Deion Sanders and a few other bubble players instead — Castilla got the first of two big breaks that paved the path to him becoming a Mexican baseball icon. The Rockies selected him with their 20th pick.Vinny Castilla tags out Luis Gonzalez trying to steal second in 1993.
“ Bob Gebhard called me after that 1994 season ended with the strike and told me to be ready to play third base,” Castilla recalled. “I played it in instructional league, and then played third base in Mexico in the winter league to get ready. We didn’t sign Charlie Hayes back, and that was my opening. I took advantage of it.”
“Playing in Taiwan last year, it didn’t stop. It was just nine innings straight of noise, so I’m anticipating an environment like that.”
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