Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kervin Castro predicted to make Opening Day roster

Originally posted on Empire Sports Media
By Andres Chavez | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 12:05 PM ET

The New York Yankees are doing that thing again. You know the one. Every spring, while the rest of the world fixates on Aaron Judge’s swing or whether Giancarlo Stanton can make it through March without a soft-tissue tweak, Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone are quietly digging through the bargain bin for a relief arm that makes everyone say, “Who?” This year, that name is Kervin Castro. And no, digging for under-the-radar pitchers is not necessarily a bad thing.

Don’t look now, but the Opening Day roster for the 2026 campaign is practically etched in stone. We know the regulars. We know most of the rotation, plus the notion that Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are rehabbing. But that final seat in the bullpen? That’s where the real drama lives.

Kervin Castro has spent this spring making professional hitters look like they’re swinging underwater. He didn’t just show up; he dominated. Through his first four appearances, the guy didn’t surrender a single hit. Five and two-thirds innings of absolute zeroes. Then he gave up a couple of hits in his last outing, but the ERA still sits at a pristine 0.00 in 8.1 frames. That isn’t just a hot streak. It’s a statement.

Credit: New York Yankees via Imagn Images

The Road Back From the Surgeon’s Table

People forget the kid had earned his right to be called a major leaguer back in 2021 and 2022 before the wheels came off. Castro missed half of 2023 and the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. That’s a long road back. A lot of guys never find their velocity again. Not Castro. He’s back to pumping mid-90s heaters and pairing them with a curveball and a cutter that give him some funk despite the lack of elite velocity.

Last year in Triple-A, he wasn’t just healthy; he was lethal. A 1.53 ERA over 47 innings with 52 strikeouts tells you everything you need to know about his stuff. He’s 27 years old, he’s hungry, and he has that specific brand of mound presence the Yankees love. He looks like he belongs. SNY’s Phillip Martinez is already calling it for him, and frankly, it’s hard to disagree.

Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest, Osvaldo Bido, and others have been steady, but they haven’t seized the moment like Castro. The Yankees could be thinking about giving him a chance to prove himself at the highest level again.

Counting Down to San Francisco

March 25 against the Giants is coming fast. With Luis Gil staying in the rotation despite some Grapefruit League wobbles, the bullpen is going to be asked to do some heavy lifting early on. You need a guy whose arrow is trending up. You need a guy who won’t blink when the lights get bright at Oracle Park.

Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Castro has the pedigree, having touched the big leagues in 2021 and 2022. This isn’t some wide-eyed prospect. It’s a finished product that just needed a tune-up. The truth is that Castro is one of the most in-form relievers on the team and has done enough to at least be considered for a spot.

This article first appeared on Empire Sports Media and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: