Calgary Viper SS Nelson Castro Named GBL Player of The Year
Published on September 24, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release
(San Ramon, CA. September 24, 2009) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that Calgary Vipers SS Nelson Castro has been selected as the 2009 GBL Player of the Year. The GBL All-Star shortstop, he led his team to the 2009 Championship and led the league in batting, slugging, triples, and stolen bases and was second in the league in RBIs and runs.
Castro, 33, 5-10, 190 was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a 17 year old by the California Angels in 1994. After six seasons in the low minors he was traded to the San Francisco Giants and excelled in their system reaching AAA and playing there for three years. He went on to play in the Boston and Milwaukee farm systems until being released. He joined the Calgary Vipers in 2006 and this is his fourth season as their starting shortstop. He has been an All-Star the last three seasons and was the Calgary Vipers team MVP in 2008. For the 2009 GBL season he was named Player of the Month for July and had an outstanding entire season as he led the league in batting with a .410 mark, just one percentage point off the league record set by Desi Wilson in 2005. In addition, he led the league in Triples with 10, Stolen Bases with 33, Slugging Average at .646, and Hits with 123. He was second in the league with 81 RBIs and 80 Runs Scored and also pounded out 11 HR which was just one off his all-time season high. He is considered one of the top defensive shortstops in the league and was key to the Vipers winning the 2009 GBL Championship.
"Nelson Castro has been the heart of the Vipers all season," said Calgary Vipers President John Conrad. "He won us many games with both his bat and his glove, was a team leader and inspiration to the players as he set the example on how to be a true professional every day of the year."
Golden Baseball League Stories from September 24, 2009
- Calgary Viper SS Nelson Castro Named GBL Player of The Year - GBL
- Victoria Seals' Parker Named Executive Of The Year - Victoria Seals
- Victoria Seals President Darren Parker Named GBL 2009 Executive of the Year - GBL
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