The former Padres Pitcher was involved in a terrible car accident

Left-handed pitcher José Castillo was involved in a car accident in his native Venezuela on Sunday. Castillo did not suffer any injuries in the accident.

A social media messenger for the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League team broke the news via X on Monday. The post was written in Spanish but translated: “Magallanes pitcher José Castillo was in a car accident, but thank God he reported that he was fine and nothing happened. The vehicle’s wheels went off the road on the Ortiz-Parara highway, in the northwestern part of Guárico state, as it was heading to Valencia on Sunday.

Castillo was assigned to Navegantes del Magallanes in October 2023 after four seasons with the San Diego Padres. He initially signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. Two years later, the Rays traded Castillo to the Padres along with center fielder Wil Myers, catcher Ryan Hanigan and right-handed pitcher Gerardo Reyes.

Castillo made his Major League debut on June 2, 2018. He made his debut a year after playing with Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. In his rookie season, the southpaw made 37 appearances as a relief pitcher and recorded a 3.29 ERA. However, Castillo only made three more appearances in the final three seasons of his MLB career.

In 2019, he suffered a tendon injury to his left middle finger, and the following year he suffered a left dorsal tear. Castillo then missed the entire 2021 season as he recovered Tommy John surgery.

Castillo was selected in free agency in 2023. He joined the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League team before signing a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks invited him as a non-roster player to spring training, but he never appeared in the MLB this season.

He also spent nearly four months on the injured list after suffering an injury earlier in the season hand injury during spring training. Castillo showed up for ACL rehab with the Diamondbacks. In the minor leagues, Castillo played most of the season with the Triple-A Reno Aces. Overall this season, Castillo has amassed a 3.75 ERA, has 29 strikeouts and just nine walks in 24 appearances with both the ACL Diamonbacks and Triple-A Reno.

Given his lack of durability over the last few seasons, it appears he still has a long way to go before he returns to the top of the Major League.