Farm Report: April 27: Castro Making Sure Rockies Don't Forget

Daniel Castro is known for his defensive ability at second, short and third. He even won Minor League Baseball's Gold Glove for shortstops last season with Triple-A Albuquerque. And then, in the spring, he made a strong impression on the Rockies big-league staff, and was a likely replacement for Pat Valaika, if Valaika had been forced to open the season on the disabled list.

Valaika, however, was healthy by the start of the season, and Castro went back to Albuquerque, where he has merely reinforced the idea that he is ready when the need arises for an infield reinforcement at Coors field.

In addition to his defensive skills, Castro, who hit .306 at Albuquerque last year, is hitting .430, on Thursday night Castro extended his hitting streak to 19 games, longest in the minor leagues this year. The 25-year-old native of Mexico spent 80 games in the big leagues with the Braves in the 2016-17 seasons, hitting .267 in his part-time role.

In Thursday's Games Down on the Farm

AAA Albuquerque (8-13) lost 6-5 against Las Vegas. Jeff Hoffman made his fourth rehab start -- third with the Isotopes -- and after pitching four strong innings, allowing one run, walked three consecutive batters with one out in the fifth, each of whom scored. Castro doubled home one run, Mike Tauchman, Jordan Patterson and Drew Wells each had solo home runs.

AA Hartford (10-9) was off.

High A Lancaster (11-10) won 3-1 at Visalia. Rico Garcia (3-1, 2.79) allowed one run on four hits, striking out eight and throwing 76 pitches in seven innings. Tyler Nevin, hitting .329, was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

A Asheville (5-14) was rained out for the third time in four days.