Jack Castillo has been waiting patiently and working hard to reach the Division I level. After three years of Division III, he finally got his wish and committed to the University of Akron.

Born in Georgia but raised in New York, Castillo developed a passion for playing baseball early. His parents signed him up for baseball, and after years of playing, he realized the arm talent he had and knew that pitching was in his future rather than hitting.

He attended Massapequa High School, where he was a two-time Nassau County champion and a one-time Long Island champion. 

After high school, he attended the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Castillo went to Plattsburgh as a walk-on because he didn’t have any offers from a school. He knew his dream of playing Division I was going to be put on hold, but it wasn’t over.

While Castillo knew he had the arm talent, he wasn’t a refined pitcher. According to him, during high school he was very skinny, had little muscle, and weighed 130 pounds. He knew he needed to get in the gym and work on his body. He went on social media and researched all the lifts baseball players, particularly pitchers, should be doing. He started a workout routine and noticed improvement over time, especially in his legs, which had gotten much bigger.

Castillo also lacked confidence in his abilities. He had the yips, and that was something that would impact him when it was time to pitch, as he would get in his own head. “I didn’t know where the ball was going, and mentally it was a disaster for me,” Castillo said.

Castillo lacked confidence to the point where he couldn’t warm up before games out of fear of throwing it too short or even behind the coach.

For Castillo, it was about working as hard as possible, doing what he could to grow as a player. But he knew the most important thing he needed to do for himself was to gain that confidence. 

The shift in mentality started during his freshman year. Castillo would often step onto the mound and talk to himself, encouraging himself. It was something that was different for him because he used to put himself down. “If I’d throw a bad ball, I’d start really beating myself up, and it would continue off the field,” Castillo said. “I’d say how terrible I was.”

Castillo had a solid freshman year, appearing in 12 innings and striking out nine batters. In his debut against Old Westbury, he helped lead them to victory, striking out four batters in three innings.

He got more time in his sophomore year as he appeared in 23 innings that season and allowed a batting average of .258, lower than his freshman year’s .271.

As a junior, Castillo put together a year in which he knew the opportunity to jump to Division I was realistic, recording 64 strikeouts in 47 innings. The 64 strikeouts were the most ever recorded in Plattsburgh program history. The single-season strikeout record was something he strived to break from the moment he set foot on the campus, wanting to leave his mark.

After the season, he knew it was time, so Castillo decided to enter the transfer portal and see what school he would go to next.

Because he wasn’t recruited coming out of high school, having schools show interest was a new experience for Castillo. “Around 20 schools reached out before I gave a commitment, so it was an interesting process being wanted and feeling wanted,” Castillo said. “It was something I can’t explain, and it felt really good and rewarding for the work I’ve quietly been putting in.”

Castillo decided that playing baseball at Akron was the best fit because he felt immediate comfort with the coaching staff. 

The last three years at Plattsburgh and his high school days taught Castillo a lot about himself, including how to deal with failure. “I failed more than everyone else around me, so I’ve learned how to deal with it,” Castillo said. “I’ve learned how to overcome it.”

Castillo knows it’s important not to beat himself up over mistakes or doubt himself like he used to, so he’s grateful for the experience he’s had and knows what it’s like to deal with the highs and the lows.

Castillo is looking forward to this chapter with Akron, knowing that the Division I level will allow him to showcase his talent. “The main thing on my plate is opportunity, and that’s all I could ever ask for,” Castillo said. “I want the opportunity to play in front of pro scouts to see how far I can go with my game. I want the opportunity to throw innings against the highest competition. I’m just extremely blessed to receive that opportunity.”

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