On Sunday, ESPN’s New York Mets and Yankees reporter Jorge Castillo broke the news about a Chicago Cubs call-up.
At first glance, it seems odd for a reporter who hasn’t covered the team to report such news. One might assume he had a source within the organization from a previous job. In a way, that’s true, but not quite. Castillo’s source wasn’t within the Cubs organization; it was within his family.
Over the weekend, Castillo announced on X (formerly Twitter) that, according to his tÃa, the Cubs would be promoting Luis Vázquez to the Major Leagues. The 24-year-old Vázquez is set to get his first opportunity on Tuesday and could potentially make his big league debut against the Atlanta Braves.
What can Vázquez Offer?
Vázquez would bolster Chicago’s middle-infield depth as Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner have been dealing with injuries, though there’s hope they might return as soon as Tuesday. At the time of his reported call-up, Vázquez was hitting .270/.369/.409 with three home runs at Triple-A Iowa.
According to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, the Cubs’ 2017 14th-round pick is ranked as the 13th and 14th-best prospect in Chicago’s farm system, respectively. While Vázquez aims to establish himself at the Major League level and possibly secure a longer stay, Castillo acknowledges that this is likely the most exciting news he’ll ever report in his career.
In the realm of sports media, it’s common to see athletes comment on former teammates or siblings, but it’s rare for a reporter to directly cover a family member’s career move. This unusual circumstance made Sunday special for Castillo, as it’s not often that one gets to announce a momentous occasion for their family.
Vázquez, hailing from Orocovis, Puerto Rico, is set to begin his Major League journey at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, hoping to become the next family member to make a mark in baseball.
