Kervin Castro is a right-handed pitcher from Venezuela making a strong case for himself in the New York Yankees bullpen. Through 5.1 innings in 2026, he carries a 1.69 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP — numbers that suggest a pitcher who has figured something out. His MLB debut came on September 7, 2021, and the road since then has been anything but straight.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Kervin Castro
- Position: Pitcher
- 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 was born on February 7, 1999, in Maracay, Venezuela — a city with deep baseball roots and a long history of producing professional talent. He came up through the development academy system, refining his mechanics as a right-handed pitcher before making his way to affiliated ball in the United States. The Yankees identified him as a prospect worth developing and brought him into their system, where he began working toward a big-league role.
Professional Career
Castro made his MLB debut on September 7, 2021, stepping into one of the most pressure-tested environments in the sport. His early years were a learning curve. In 2022 with the Chicago Cubs, he threw 10.2 innings and posted a 7.59 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and 7 strikeouts, going 0-1. That same year, in additional appearances logged without a specified team, his ERA climbed to 10.22 over 12.1 innings — though he did punch out 11 batters, a sign that the stuff was there even when the results weren’t.
Those numbers reflected what a lot of young pitchers go through when they first face elite hitters at the big-league level. Control issues and inconsistency are common. What matters is whether a pitcher can make adjustments — and Castro has.
His return to the Yankees in 2026 looks like a turning point. In 5.1 innings, he’s posted a 1.69 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 7 strikeouts. The command problems that plagued his 2022 appearances appear to be largely behind him, and he’s pitching like someone who belongs at this level.
Career Stats
- 2026 — New York Yankees: 5.1 IP | 0-0 | 1.69 ERA | 0.94 WHIP | 7 K
- 2022 — (No team specified): 12.1 IP | 0-1 | 10.22 ERA | 1.78 WHIP | 11 K
- 2022 — Chicago Cubs: 10.2 IP | 0-1 | 7.59 ERA | 1.50 WHIP | 7 K
Awards and Records
Castro hasn’t collected individual hardware yet — no Cy Young, MVP or Gold Glove on the shelf. His career is still being written. But a 1.69 ERA in 2026 is his best mark to date, and if he keeps pitching at this level, recognition will follow.
Worth Knowing
The jump from a 10.22 ERA in 2022 to a 1.69 ERA in 2026 is the kind of turnaround that doesn’t happen by accident. A lot of prospects never recover from rough early stretches in the majors. Castro has — and he’s doing it wearing pinstripes, which means the spotlight only gets brighter from here.
