Vinny Castilla

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Vinny Castilla
Third baseman
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1991 for the Atlanta Braves
Final game
September 28, 2006 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics
Batting average	.276
Home runs	320
RBI	1105
Teams
Atlanta Braves (1991-1992, 2002-2003) Colorado Rockies (1993-1999, 2004, 2006) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2000-2001) Houston Astros (2001) Washington Nationals (2005) San Diego Padres (2006)
Career highlights and awards
Named third baseman on The Sporting News NL All-Star Team (1995 and 1997 to 1998) Named third baseman on The Sporting News NL Silver Slugger Team (1995 and 1997 to 1998) Was the National League RBI Champion in 2004

Vinicio Castilla Soria, commonly known as Vinny Castilla [cass-TEE-yah] (born July 4, 1967 in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico), was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played his best years with the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the San Diego Padres (2006), Washington Nationals (2005), Atlanta Braves (1991-92, 2002-03), Colorado Rockies (1993-99, 2004), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2000, 2001) and Houston Astros (2001). He decided to retire after the Caribbean Series on February 7, 2007.

A huge favorite among Rockies fans, Castilla hit 40 home runs both in 1996 and 1997, 46 in 1998, and has compiled five 100-plus RBI seasons, leading the National League with a career-high 131 in 2004. He helped to lead the Rockies to their only playoffs appearance in 1995. He remains in the top ten in many offensive categories for the Rockies.[1]

Castilla was a member of the inaugural Colorado Rockies team that began play in Major League Baseball in 1993.

Castilla, having one of the worst seasons of his career, was released by the Padres on July 19, 2006 to make room for pitcher Mike Thompson. On August 14, the Rockies signed him to a minor league contract and he was recalled from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on September 1, 2006. On September 28, in a game against the Dodgers, Castilla had a pinch-hit RBI single in his last at bat at the Rockies' home stadium, Coors Field.

1 Highlights
2 Career
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Highlights

Twice All-Star (1995, 1998)
3-time Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1997-98)
Led NL in RBI (2004)
Led NL in games played (162, 1998)
Joined Andrés Galarraga and Ellis Burks as just the second trio of 40-homer teammates in MLB history (1996)
Joined Galarraga, Burks and Dante Bichette as just the third 100-RBI team-quartet in MLB history (1996)