Benny Castillo Named Canaries Hitting Coach
SIOUX FALLS, SD (November 12, 2007) - The Sioux Falls Canaries have hired Benny Castillo to be the team's hitting coach for the 2008 American Association baseball season.
"Benny is a great addition to our coaching staff," said Canaries Manager Steve Shirley. "He brings great experience to the table and will be a valuable asset to us this season."
Castillo began his managerial career in with the Duluth-Superior Dukes in the Northern League. In his first year as manager, Castillo led the Dukes to the Northern League Central Championship, and was named the Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. Since then, Castillo has spent time as a manager for the Sioux City Explorers (2001-02), the Florida Marlins short-season Jamestown Jammers (2003-04), the independent Golden Baseball League's Yuma Scorpions (2005-06), and the Detroit Tigers' rookie team in the Gulf Coast League (2007). In his time as a manager with both the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers, Castillo also served as their Extended Spring Training Coordinator.
Prior to beginning his coaching career, Castillo spent 11 years playing in the minor leagues, including spending parts of four seasons as an outfielder for the Sioux Falls Canaries. Originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1986, Castillo opted to play one season at Oklahoma State University before turning pro in 1987. During his 11 year career, Benny played for four different major league organizations, reaching as high as Double-A.
The professional move to Sioux Falls is a homecoming for Castillo who has lived in the city with his wife, Julie, and his daughter, Bailey, since 1996. While living in Sioux Falls, Castillo has received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Augustana College in 2000, and in one month he will receive a Masters in Teaching from the University of Sioux Falls.
"After talking with Steve Shirley and Canaries General Manager Matt Hansen, I knew that this was the right job for me," said Castillo. "Not only will I get to work with a great organization, but this job will also allow me to spend more time at home with my family."