CORAL GABLES, Fla. – One of the best players in America has been recognized as one of the top catchers in the country.
Third-year standout Adrian Del Castillo was one of 69 catchers named to the official watch list for the 2021 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, announced Tuesday by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. Del Castillo is on the watch list for the second consecutive year.
“Adrian is one of the better pure hitters we have ever had at Miami,” head coach Gino DiMare said. “He has the ability to hit the ball to all fields with power and is an RBI machine. He also possesses a great feel for the strike zone and for a power guy is a difficult guy to strikeout. His defense has continued to improve in all phases and commands respect from all his teammates. He is a very coachable player and one of our leaders on our ballclub.”
One of the premier hitters in America, Del Castillo is considered among the top prospects in the 2021 MLB Draft class. The third-year catcher has been a machine at the plate in his two years at The U, hitting .336 with 24 doubles, 14 home runs and 87 RBI over 77 games played. In a 16-game shortened season a year ago, Del Castillo led the Hurricanes with a .358 batting average and was tied for the team lead in runs scored (13) and hits (19), while his 15 RBI tied for second on the club.
A 2020 Preseason All-American by four different publications, Del Castillo was an offensive juggernaut in his debut season with the Canes. The standout finished the 2019 campaign batting .331 with 78 hits, 22 doubles and 72 RBI, all team-bests. The Miami native also scored 58 runs and clubbed 12 homers, while striking out just 24 times in 236 at-bats. A versatile player who saw time in right field, catcher, designated hitter and third base, he tied for the team lead with 22 multi-hit games and was second on the team with 18 multi-RBI performances.
Del Castillo’s 72 RBI were the second-most by a UM freshman in program history, finishing just four shy of Ryan Braun’s record 76, set in 2003. The 72 runs batted in were also the most by a Miami freshman since Yonder Alonso drove in 69 as a freshman in 2006. His 18 multi-RBI games were the most by a Hurricane freshman since Zack Collins posted 15 in 2014. A Freshman All-America selection by four publications, Del Castillo earned a host of awards after his collegiate debut season, including Second Team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman Team, ABCA All-Region and All-Starkville Regional Team honors.
Del Castillo is also on the Golden Spikes Award Watch List for the second straight year and the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List.