Kervin Castro is a 27-year-old Venezuelan right-hander carving out a spot in the New York Yankees bullpen. Born in Maracay on February 7, 1999, Castro made his MLB debut on September 7, 2021, and has been on a steady climb ever since — posting a 1.69 ERA through 2026.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Kervin Castro
- Position: Pitcher (Relief)
- Team: New York Yankees
- Number: 74
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’10» / 234 lbs
- Born: February 7, 1999 (age 27)
- Hometown: Maracay, Venezuela
- MLB Debut: September 7, 2021
Background
Castro comes out of Venezuela’s deep pitching pipeline — the same country that has sent generations of arms to the big leagues. Growing up in Maracay, in Aragua state, he worked his way through the US minor league system, drawing attention from scouts for his fastball velocity and strikeout ability. The Yankees called him up in September 2021, and he’s been bouncing between the majors and the minors ever since, sharpening his craft at every level.
Professional Career
The early part of Castro’s MLB journey was a learning curve — and a steep one. In 2022, he pitched 10.2 innings for the Chicago Cubs with a 7.59 ERA and 7 strikeouts, then logged another 12.1 innings with a 10.22 ERA with a second organization that same season. Those numbers weren’t pretty, but they were typical of a young reliever still figuring out how to retire big-league hitters.
Fast forward to 2026, and Castro looks like a different pitcher in a Yankees uniform. Through 5.1 innings, he’s sitting at a 1.69 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 7 strikeouts — numbers that suggest he’s finally found his footing in one of baseball’s most competitive bullpens.
Career Stats
- 2026 — New York Yankees: 5.1 IP | 1.69 ERA | 0.94 WHIP | 7 K | 0-0
- 2022 — (Second org.): 12.1 IP | 10.22 ERA | 1.78 WHIP | 11 K | 0-1
- 2022 — Chicago Cubs: 10.2 IP | 7.59 ERA | 1.50 WHIP | 7 K | 0-1
Awards & Milestones
Castro hasn’t collected individual hardware yet — no MVP, no Silver Slugger. His focus has been simpler and harder: earn a permanent spot in a Yankees bullpen where the competition never lets up. The work is ongoing.
Worth Knowing
Going from a 10.22 ERA in 2022 to a 1.69 ERA in 2026 isn’t luck — it’s the kind of grind that defines a pitcher’s career arc. Castro’s story is a quiet reminder that development isn’t always linear, and that sticking with it long enough to figure things out at the highest level is its own kind of achievement.
