Ask Ron Gardenhire or Torii Hunter about the Twins’ MVP so far this season and the answer may surprise. Justin Morneau is tied for second in home runs among American League players with 17, Johan Santana has won the Cy Young award two of the last three seasons and with more run support might be at eight or nine wins already, Joe Nathan is arguably baseball’s best closer, and Hunter is having a career season with 13 home runs, 48 RBI and a .308 average.
And then there’s Luis Castillo. He’s hitting .330, second on the team to Joe Mauer, and earlier this season set a major league record for second basemen with 143 consecutive games without an error. The 31-year-old Castillo entered this season with only 19 errors since 2004, the third lowest total for a second baseman in the major leagues (behind Detroit’s Placido Polanco, 12, and Kansas City’s Mark Grudzielanek, 16). Castillo has hit safely in 25 of his last 28 games, batting .361 (44-122) in that period.
The Twins, defending Central Division champions, have been a disappointment so far with a 30-31 record, but Hunter praised Castillo for playing hurt, getting on base and his errorless streak. “Without him, I don’t know where we would be,” Hunter said.
Ask manager Ron Gardenhire about players who deserve consideration for next month’s major league All-Star game in San Francisco and Castillo’s name comes up fast. Gardenhire mentioned Santana and Nathan, outfielders Michael Cuddyer and Hunter, and no doubt intended to include first baseman Morneau.
“I think Louie Castillo is probably ahead of them all,” Gardenhire told Sports Headliners. “He’s done everything for this ballclub up to this point. He’s probably been our best player even with his sore knees and all those things. …I would think that what he’s done up to this point would lead him right to the All-Star game. He’s been there before and deserves to go again.”
Unfortunately for Castillo, baseball fans haven’t thus far submitted enough votes to place him in the 2007 All-Star game. As of last week five other American League second basemen, starting with New York’s Robinson Cano, had more votes.
Castillo is in his second season with the Twins after an extraordinary career with Florida. In seven full seasons with the Marlins he hit under .300 only once, won three gold glove awards and played in three All-Star games.
Gardenhire made a comparison between the Castillo who played for the Marlins and the Castillo of today. “His legs are bothering him,” Gardenhire said. “He’s not the same player he was a few years ago but when he has to run, he runs. He makes all the plays as we’ve seen with his records. Good player.”