When it comes to top pitchers within the Philadelphia Phillies' minor league system, the obvious names that one would think of first include the likes of Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, Seth Johnson, Michael Mercado, and perhaps even the fallen Griff McGarry. But when the Phillies’ top minor league pitcher of the year for 2024 was announced, the winner turned out to be a complete surprise.
The Paul Owens Award is handed out every year by the Phillies to their top position player and pitcher in the minors. This year, the honor for their top minor league pitcher in the organization went to Eiberson Castellano, a name most Phillies fans probably never heard of. After all, he is not even found among the Phillies’ Top 30 prospects list.
Present 🤝 Phuture
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) September 26, 2024
Last night, former Paul Owens Award recipients Bryson Stott (‘21), Alec Bohm (‘19) and Orion Kerkering (‘23) helped present the award to this year’s recipients, Justin Crawford and Eiberson Castellano. pic.twitter.com/9T0vLc8H6v
Eiberson Castellano, the Phillies’ top minor league pitcher this season, is a name you’ve probably never heard
Castellano was signed by the Phillies as an international free agent out of Venezuela back in 2018 when he was just 17 years old. He didn’t start playing in the Phillies organization until the 2021 season.
This year, he put together a strong minor league campaign, splitting his time between the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws and Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. In 22 total games, which included 20 starts, Castellano posted a 6-5 record with a 3.99 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, with 29 walks and a whopping 136 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings pitched. His 136 punchouts actually led all Phillies’ minor league pitchers this season.
Eiberson Castellano can’t be stopped ⛽
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) August 26, 2024
Castellano threw his second double-digit strikeout game in a row for the Fightin’ Phils yesterday! pic.twitter.com/ZUwBULyzR8
More significantly, he posted an impressive 31.3 percent strikeout rate to go along with a tidy 6.7 percent walk rate, putting his great control and command on full display in the process. Castellano was also the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the month back in July, so now being named pitcher of the year is the icing on the cake for the 23-year-old right-hander.
His sudden emergence this year actually helps lessen the blow after the Phillies had to give up promising pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri at the trade deadline. At this moment, Castellano may not be a household name just yet, but if he keeps on improving his game while continuing to put up the stellar numbers that he has in the process, he will soon be making a name for himself in due time.