Braulio Castillo worked hard to make bigs, saw 2 seasons

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Baulio Castillo 1990 San Antonio Missions card
Braulio Castillo helped his Philadelphia to a 6-2 win and he did so by hitting a three-run home run - his first in the majors, according to The Associated Press.

"I'm really happy about this, I've worked so hard for this," Castillo told The AP.

Castillo hit that home run in his second season in the majors and his sixth season as a pro. His big league career consisted of those two seasons and two total home runs.

Castillo's career began in 1985, signed by the Dodgers  as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.

Castillo started on the field with the Dodgers in 1987 in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He hit .200 in 49 games.

He then played 1988 largely at short-season Salem, then 1989 at single-A Bakersfield. He hit .298 at Bakersfield, with 18 home runs.

That July, Castillo praised his hitting coach Reggie Smith to The Los Angeles Times.

"Reggie helps me a lot," Castillo told The Times. "He's teaching me to hit the curveball and to stay back in the box."

He made AA San Antonio in 1990, and started 1991 back there before being traded to the Phillies. He briefly played at AAA Scranton before debuting in the majors.

"I never expected something like this to happen so soon," Castillo told The Wilkes Barre Citizens' Voice after his call-up. "I was thinking more along the lines of September when I thought I would be called up."

Castillo got into 28 games that year for the Phillies and hit .173. He returned for another 28 games in 1992 and hit 197, with those two home runs.

Castillo played the next year at AAA with the Rockies and the Astros and then 1994 briefly  back at with the Astros at high-A Osceola.. He then rounded out his career in Mexico in 1995 and 1996. He is then credited as returning in independent ball in 2006 to end his career.
1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured: 3,009
Made the Majors:1,104-36.7%-X
Never Made Majors:1,905-63.4%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 459
10+ Seasons in the Minors:276

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