How Luis Castillo has been invaluable to Mariners’ success

Aug 15, 2025, 12:04 PM | Updated: 12:10 pm

Seattle Sports

Some nicknames spawn from irony, others just seem to perfectly align with the personality and actions of an individual.

Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo’s nickname, La Piedra, is certainty the latter part of that statement. La Piedra translates to The Rock, which is exactly was Castillo’s steadying presence has been in Seattle’s rotation this year.

Where to find Seahawks preseason, Mariners-Mets radio broadcasts

In a season that’s featured a trio of key injuries and some inconsistencies from the starting rotation, the 32-year-old Castillo has turned in a season that could end up being his best full one in a Mariners uniform.

The right-hander is 8-6 with a 3.19 ERA over 138 1/3 innings while taking the ball every turn in 24 starts. He’s pitched at least six innings 14 times and turned in 14 quality starts along the way.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Castillo’s year is how he has gotten stronger throughout games, holding opponents to a .215 average and .633 OPS during the third time through the order.

During Friday’s edition of Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports, co-host Mike Salk made the case for why Castillo’s season isn’t being talked about enough.

“He has not gotten nearly enough credit, I think, for what he’s done this year,” Salk said. “… The numbers show Luis has been really good this year and my eyes think that he’s been really good this year, and I think some of what he brings to the Mariners goes beyond just what he’s done on the mound this year for the team. But if you wanna just start with the numbers, they’re pretty great.”

3 ways Castillo is invaluable to M’s

Salk laid out three reasons why Castillo is such an integral piece for the Mariners, with the first being his durability on the mound.

“(The) dude posts. He posts. He takes the ball every five days, no matter what, and he gives you innings,” Salk said. “… If you ever want six innings and two runs (allowed), he’s your guy. It feels like that is just his norm. Probably not a surprise that he’s got about a 3.00 ERA. … It just feels like that is who he is.”

The other factors that stand out to Salk speak less about Castillo the player and more to Castillo the person.

“In talking to people around the team and about him, one of the things they say often is that he truly wants no credit, that he is one of the rare truly selfless dudes that you will find in the game – and you see evidence of it,” Salk said. “When he was not named the opening day starter this year for the first time, no problem. He didn’t throw a fit. He didn’t get angry. He didn’t do anything. He supported Logan (Gilbert) and was wonderful.”

On top of the selfless attitude, Salk has heard Castillo is a true leader in the clubhouse.

“By all accounts, he is a big-time leader, and you don’t often say that about pitchers because it’s hard for pitchers to lead,” Salk said. “… I have heard that he actually works really, really hard, and that’s been a big part of who he is. But more so the leadership especially among the younger Latino players on the team: (Carlos) Vargas, (Eduard) Bazardo and others that you’ve seen take a jump – yesterday notwithstanding.

“Those guys have had big steps forward this year, and my understanding is that Luis has played a role in that.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.