Yolfran Castillo, a promising Texas Rangers infield prospect, stands out for his elite contact skills, disciplined approach, strong defense at shortstop, and room for power.
Yolfran Castillo is a promising infield prospect in the Texas Rangers organization. The right-handed hitter and thrower hails from Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He is the Texas Rangers no. 13 ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Age: 18 (19 in Feb.) | Pos: SS/3B | HT: 6-3 | WT: 165 lbs | B/T: R/R | ETA: 2028
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 165 pounds, he has plenty of room to add weight and strength.
The Texas Rangers signed Castillo as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2024, for a $647,500 bonus.
Castillo split his debut season between the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League. In the DSL, he slashed .414/.552/.471/1.024 with no home runs and 20 RBIs in 20 games. He walked 22 times against just eight strikeouts and stole six bases.
His ridiculous average and on-base percentage earned him a promotion stateside to the ACL Rangers. In 15 games there, he hit .333/.379/.350/.729 with six RBIs, five walks, seven strikeouts and four stolen bases.
Castillo played 60 games in the ACL, slashing .260/.310/.366/.676 with one home run, 31 RBIs, 16 walks, 52 strikeouts and 18 stolen bases.
He earned a late-season promotion to Single-A Hickory, where he appeared in 28 games and hit .255/.325/.321/.646 with no home runs, 10 RBIs, 10 walks, 17 strikeouts and 11 stolen bases.
Castillo showcases outstanding contact ability and plate discipline, with limited power currently. He's got some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the system.
His exit velocities have increased each season, signaling potential for more power as he adds strength to his frame. Scouts project 10-15 home run potential.
Defensively, Castillo possesses the arm strength, range and instincts to stay at shortstop long-term. His height provides positional versatility, allowing a potential move to third base. Speaking of third: In 2025, he played 23 games at third base.
Career fielding: five errors in 27 games at third base; 20 errors in 97 games at shortstop.
On the bases, Castillo has solid speed, stealing 10 bases in 2024 and 29 in 2025.
As one of the younger players to reach Single-A in recent years, Castillo profiles as a high-floor infielder with upside, thanks to his defensive reliability, approach at the plate and room for physical development. He remains a prospect to watch closely in the Rangers' system.
