Rusney Castillo Goes 1-For-4 In MLB Debut
BOSTON (CBS) -- While it wasn't the electric debut many had hoped for, Rusney Castillo played in his first major league game on Wednesday night.
Castillo, the Cuban defector who signed a seven-year, $72.5 million contract with the Red Sox back in August, went 1-for-4 in Boston's 9-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 27-year-old, batting seventh and manning center field for Boston, lightly grounded out in his first major league at-bat in the second inning. But it wouldn't take him long to pick up his first major league hit.
In the fourth inning, Castillo hit a sharp grounder to Pirates second baseman Neil Walker. The ball hit off the heel of his glove, and Castillo found his way to first base with an infield single -- the first hit of his career. The ball ended up in the Boston dugout, and it was given to the outfielder following the game.
He flied out to center in the seventh inning, and grounded out to short in his final at-bat in the ninth.
Castillo said he approached Wednesday's game it like any other and didn't feel any added nerves or pressure ahead of his MLB debut. As for the end result, he would have liked Boston to have come out with a victory, but was happy with what he was able to accomplish on a personal level.
"I'm pretty satisfied with that being my first game," Castillo told reporters through translator Adrian Lorenzo. "Obviously you would like a better outcome in terms of winning the game, but I was pretty satisfied with my overall approach and the way I stepped in today and had some results."
As for the hit, he would have liked to have shown a little more flash at the plate but will take his first hit however it came.
"You'd always like to hit the ball hard and be a line drive, but a hit's a hit," he said. "Glad I got one."
Castillo wasn't really challenged in center, but made a nice running catch in the fifth inning.
While it was a small sample of what Castillo can offer, Boston manager John Farrell was impressed by what he saw on Wednesday night.
"He's aggressive. He's going to hit the ball where it's pitched," said Farrell. "Wasn't really challenged defensively. Makes a decent running catch out in left-center field. For his debut, first action, he didn't look overmatched, didn't look overwhelmed in the situation."
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