CHICAGO – A recent conversion to the bullpen made Simon Castro the ideal candidate to join the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
The White Sox called up the right-hander not long after right-hander Brian Omogrosso was optioned back to Triple-A following a drubbing Friday against the Cleveland Indians when he gave up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings.
“Definitely I’m prepared,” said Castro, who had a 4.92 ERA at Charlotte this season and has no major league experience. “I’m working hard to be ready for that and I threw a couple of times out of the bullpen in Charlotte, so I feel pretty good.”
Ventura hinted early in the week that the White Sox were interested in adding a long reliever. But when Friday’s doubleheader came, the White Sox opted for an extra position player with Brent Morel.
Omogrosso’s outing opened the door for the White Sox to make the move they appeared to be ready to make anyway.
“What he would do is similar to what a long reliever/starter would do,” Ventura said. “He's in there, he's earned the right to be here filling in if we need him.”
In other words, it sounds like Castro would be limited to mop-up duty until he can prove himself.
Castro opened the season with 12 starts, but his last four outings have come in relief. It’s been somewhat of a rocky transition as he has given up two runs in two of the four outings, while pitching at least two innings in three of the four appearances.
Castro was acquired by the White Sox on Dec. 31, 2011 in the deal that sent Carlos Quentin to the San Diego Padres. The White Sox also acquired Pedro Hernandez in that move, but he was sent on to the Minnesota Twins in the deal that landed Francisco Liriano.
