The Miami Marlins inducted former Dominican second baseman and 2003 World Series champion Luis Castillo into their team’s Hall of Fame on Sunday, August 25, before the final game of their home series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Castillo closed out the Hall’s inaugural class, which also included two-time World Series champion Jeff Conine on March 30, Hall of Fame manager and 1997 World Series champion Jim Leyland on July 6, and 2003 World Series champion manager Jack McKeon on August 3.
The hits, the steals, the heart.
Luis Castillo takes his place in Marlins history ???? pic.twitter.com/L2iOE5UL7N
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 24, 2025
The 49-year-old from San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, played for the Florida Marlins from 1996 until 2005. During that stretch, he earned three All-Star selections in 2002, 2003, abd 2005, three Gold Gloves from 2003–05, and twice led the National League in stolen bases 2000 and 2002.
He later played with the Minnesota Twins in 2006–07 before being traded to the New York Mets on July 30, 2007, in exchange for minor leaguers Drew Butera and Dustin Martin. Castillo spent four seasons with the Mets through 2010, was released in March 2011, and signed a short-lived deal with the Philadelphia Phillies that spring.
In 15 Major League seasons, Castillo posted a career WAR of 29.1 across 1,720 games. He batted .290 with 1,889 hits, 194 doubles, 59 triples, 28 home runs, 443 RBI, 370 stolen bases, 800 walks, and 850 strikeouts, finishing with a .719 OPS.
Castillo signed as a non-drafted free agent with Florida on August 19, 1992, and began his professional career in 1994 with the Gulf Coast Marlins, setting the short-season club record with 31 stolen bases. In 1995 at Class-A Kane County, he hit .326 in 89 games with 111 hits and 41 steals, earning All-Star honors.
By 1996, Castillo was excelling with Double-A Portland, where he hit .317 with 133 hits and 51 stolen bases in 109 games, before making his Major League debut on August 8. That year he appeared in 41 games for Florida, recording 43 hits, 17 stolen bases, and slashing .262/.320/.305.
He split the 1997 season between the Marlins and Triple-A Charlotte, appearing in 75 MLB games before a left heel injury slowed him. In Charlotte, he showed his development by hitting .287 with 109 hits and 41 stolen bases in 100 games.
Castillo’s defining moment came during the 2003 championship season. He played in 152 games, hitting .314 with 187 hits, 21 stolen bases, and a .778 OPS, then added 15 hits, four doubles, and three stolen bases in 17 postseason games as the Marlins beat the Yankees in six games to capture their second World Series title.
Over his decade in Miami, Castillo built a 22.4 WAR while hitting .293 in 1,128 games. He collected 1,273 hits, 130 doubles, 42 triples, 20 home runs, 271 RBI, 281 stolen bases, and a .726 OPS, along with 533 walks. His speed, defense, and ability to get on base made him one of the most important figures in franchise history.
