Dec. 12--HOUSTON -- Starlin Castro drove in 65 runs in 2014 while batting in the cleanup spot for the first time over an extended period despite missing the final 27 games because of a left ankle injury.
Castro also managed to hit 14 home runs, and general manager Jed Hoyer intimated the Chicago Cubs' shortstop may display more power after rebounding from a miserable 2013 season.
"Four full seasons, and three times he's been an All-Star," said Hoyer, reminding beat writers that Castro is only 24. "That's hard to accomplish. He's talented with the bat. There's no question he's always going to be a guy who puts the ball in play and looks to seek hits.
"But I really believe there's a lot of power in there, and I think that's going to start showing up. I thought it was too bad he got hurt in September."
Hoyer was impressed with long-distance home runs Castro hit at Coors Field on Aug. 7, at Citi Field on Aug. 17 and at Busch Stadium on Aug. 30. From Aug. 7 until suffering his ankle injury on Aug. 2, Castro's batting average climbed from .278 to .292, and Castro believed he could have reached the .300 mark for the first time since 2011 had he not gotten hurt on a slide at home plate.
"He's going to grow into some man strength," Hoyer said. "And learn how to look for pitches in right counts, and there's a lot of power in there. I think there's a good chance in his career he goes from a batting average first type of hitter to a guy who hopefully the batting average stays the same and the home runs creep up. Probably to me the biggest disappointment is that it was about to happen before he got hurt."
Castro's on-base percentage also climbed from .284 to .339, and he had two more extra base hits despite missing nearly the final four weeks.
Castro's ability to hit for more power can benefit the Cubs in the event they elect to move him to third base or another position. The Cubs intend to keep Castro at shortstop this season while Addison Russell gains at least another year of seasoning in the minors.
But should they elect to promote Russell to the majors as a shortstop, Castro's value would soar as long as he can hit for power while playing steady defense at short.
In other Cubs news, Javier Baez made his winter ball debut in Puerto Rico on Thursday night for Santurce. Baez played second base but went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and three strikeouts in a victory over Mayaguez.
Baez is scheduled to play for Santurce for the rest of the month as he works on adjustments and making more contact after striking out 95 times in 213 at-bats in addition to a .169 batting average.
