NEW YORK – Since returning from injury, Starlin Castro is hitting .358 with a HR, nine RBI and four doubles. The New York Yankees are 6-5 with Castro back in the lineup and he has shown why he is such an integral part of this team. The second baseman has also had four multi-hit games since his return, most of which have come in valuable situations.
To put it simply, Castro has evolved into the best hitter in the Yankees’ lineup. He has grown into a more mature hitter at the plate and comes through when the Yankees need him most.
Most recently, Castro delivered a huge three run homer to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday afternoon. The Orioles had an early lead and Castro’s homer gave the Yankees a lot of momentum throughout the rest of the game.
In the final game of the four game series against the Boston Red Sox, Castro put the nail in the coffin for the Yankees with his bases-clearing double. This put the Yankees up 7-1 and ensured that Boston had no chance of making a comeback.
An argument could be made about several great hitters in the Yankees’ lineup, but for me, the thing that makes Castro so important is his ability to make contact with the baseball when he is up at the plate. The Yankees’ second baseman has refined his approach this season and hasn’t tried to do too much with a pitch. He takes what he is given and puts the ball in play.
Overall, Castro is going to be huge for the Yankees as they make their push into the playoffs. The Yankees’ lineup is finally getting back to full health and will look to make it four wins in a row on Tuesday night when they take on Baltimore.
