Miguel Castro’s heart stays tied to La Romana
By Andy Martinez
Miguel Castro slipped his shiny, black Dr. Dre Beats headphones off his blonde-tipped dreadlocks and walked toward his locker stall in the visitors’ clubhouse at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
He tiptoed around a matching Louis Vuitton backpack and suitcase and a black foldable chair to make himself comfortable. The stylish hair, the luxurious headphones and travel gear mask his humble beginnings.
Life hasn’t always been filled with swagger and elegance for the Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher.
“I know what it’s like not having a toy, a book, a pencil,” said the flame-throwing righthander from La Romana, Dominican Republic.
He also knows the agony of being unable to help while seeing his parents struggle.
It would be a ridiculous understatement to say his parents Miguel Sr. and Yesnia Báez were going through medical hardships in 2012.
Báez needed surgery to remove a fibrous tumor. As if that didn’t weigh the family down with enough angst, Miguel Sr., a former heavyweight boxer, needed a prostate operation.
Although he was already 19, the younger Castro continued to train in hopes of signing a professional contract and somehow help his parents.
“That’s what I wanted to do with my first bonus,” Castro said. “I wanted to give it to them so I could support them and they could do what they wanted, primarily the surgeries, because they needed them.”
His chances were somewhat slim at 19 years old, three years older than when most Dominican youngsters sign.
But Castro, who played center field when he was young, kept grinding. Then the family’s prayers were answered.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Castro as an amateur free agent, giving him a $43,000 signing bonus.
He kept true to his word.
“I helped my parents with their surgeries,” Castro said. “That’s the first thing I did with my (signing) bonus, help my parents and support them.”
You could say Castro had a big heart just on that act alone. You could even say he had done more than his share to give back.
He was just getting started, literally and figuratively. His parents’ surgeries are only part of the story for the slender, 6-foot-5 reliever.
Harkening back to his humble beginnings, Castro knew he wanted to help children and bring smiles to their faces.
“I know there are kids in neighborhoods that don’t have anything and don’t have the opportunity to have a toy, a notebook, a pencil, things like that,” Castro said. “I know there are kids in neighborhoods that don’t have anything.”
Every November when the baseball season ends, he gives back to his hometown of La Romana and surrounding neighborhoods. Castro gives out toys, school supplies, meals and other things children may want or need.
“I feel happy and joyful and thank God that I have the opportunity to lend help to those children that don’t have the opportunity to get a haircut or to girls who can’t get their hair washed,” Castro said.
He hopes to help children here in the U.S., too.
“I’m starting to do something here, but I have to talk more to my agent about that,” Castro said.
In giving back, he’s bringing joy and pride to his parents.
“My parents are always happy and proud with what I do (for children),” Castro said. “They’ve always raised me on the right path.”
He’ll continue to spoil himself, too. It’s hard to argue he hasn’t earned that.
“When you get here (to the big leagues), you have the opportunity to buy for yourself and be able to help others,” Castro said. “Now that I have the opportunity to help the children, I have always done it and I hope to do it again this year, too.”
Featured Image: Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport