Storybook Start

MIAMI — Adrian Del Castillo ltried to hold back the tears.

The Diamondbacks clubhouse was mostly empty, but the 24-year-old rookie remained.

While sitting at his locker, Del Castillo reflected on the special evening. A night he got to share with the family and friends who have been by his side since he was a little kid.

He thought about his parents, brother, grandparents, cousins, friends, coaches and teachers.

And then, Del Castillo was overcome with emotion.

“I’m really at a loss for words,” he said. “It’s everything I’ve dreamed of since I was five years old. To be able to do that and to see my family and friends and everyone who has been through it with me, I’m so happy.”

After growing up just a few short miles away from LoanDepot Park and watching countless games in the stands, Del Castillo was back home.

This time, he was starring on the field where his childhood heroes once played.

If that wasn’t enough, more than 150 of his biggest fans witnessed Del Castillo etch his name in baseball history.

“It’s almost like the perfect script to a storybook,” said Madeline Del Castillo, Adrian’s mother. “It doesn’t feel real. We’re so happy for him and so endlessly proud of him.”

For the Del Castillo family, a longtime dream turned into more than they could’ve ever even imagined on Aug. 19.

In the series opener against his hometown team, Del Castillo hit a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead the Diamondbacks past the Marlins, 9-6.

He joined Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (1974) and two-time All-Star Jerry Grote (1981) as one of only three MLB catchers to total at least six RBI and a stolen base in a contest.

Del Castillo’s 14 RBI through his first nine career games match the second-most by a player over that timespan since RBI became official in 1920, trailing Mitchell Page’s 15 in 1977.

But that memorable Monday night is far from the only moment he will take with him forever.

“Honestly, every game, I can’t believe I’m in the big leagues,” he said. “Sometimes, it doesn’t feel real, but once the game starts, I’m so locked in.”

Del Castillo introduced himself to the baseball world in style.

Save that ball ⚾️

Congratulations to @AdrianDelCast on his first hit and RBI in the big leagues! #ProCanes pic.twitter.com/57Idc3UxSb

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) August 7, 2024

In his first major-league at-bat, the 14^th-ranked Diamondbacks prospect recorded an RBI double, coming a few feet away from a home run at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Two days later, Del Castillo came through with the winning homer in just his second game in The Show.

With his ninth-inning heroics, he became the first player in Arizona Diamondbacks history to hit a walk-off blast for his first career home run.

“Goosebumps, honestly. Straight up goosebumps. It was sick. I don’t even know how to describe it,” Del Castillo said. “After the celebration and I did all the interviews, I found my parents. They gave me a big hug and we were jumping around. It was special that they got to see it from the stands.”

Photos courtesy of Arizona Diamondbacks

The Miami native continued to vault himself atop the sport’s headlines.

With his family on-hand at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Del Castillo delivered the game-tying three-run shot off Rays closer Pete Fairbanks to force extra innings.

“It’s been a blessing what he’s accomplished in such a short time in the major leagues,” said Carlos Del Castillo, Adrian’s father. “We truly have to thank God. He’s living out his dream. It’s such a surreal experience. It’s been a beautiful blessing.”

Through his first three weeks in the big leagues, the 5-foot-10, 208-pound backstop is slashing .354/.426/.583 with three home runs and 14 RBI.

When Del Castillo has played, Arizona is 12-2, highlighted by his flair for the dramatic.

His immediate impact has impressed eighth-year Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo.

“You can’t really ask for any greater moments for a young player,” Lovullo said. “It’s a tribute to him. It’s preparation. He’s doing everything right. He’s working his butt off to make it happen.”

While Del Castillo may have taken MLB by storm, he was a household name in South Florida from a young age.

After tearing up the travel ball circuit and competing against kids a couple years older, he caught the attention of plenty of people around the area, including coaches at the University of Miami.

“He was a local legend. He continued to develop and get better and better. Once he got to high school, he became one of the all-time great bats to come out of this city,” Miami skipper J.D. Arteaga said. “He had a professional approach from Day One he was on campus. The way he carried himself, the way he understood the game, he was a professional in every sense of the word.”

Now, with the Diamondbacks in the thick of a playoff push, Del Castillo is playing a key part in helping the team defend its 2023 National League crown.

But at the end of the day, he’s just happy to be living out his childhood dream.

“Right now, I want to get to the World Series. I’m just happy to be here and be a part of a club that is hot,” Del Castillo said. “I don’t think it has fully set in. I’m playing a kids’ game. I’m just trying to make my younger self proud.”