The 2019 Detroit Tigers pitching staff was a bit of a nightmare from a player development standpoint. Without a fifth starter and lacking reinforcements in the bullpen, pitchers were wearing a groove into I-75 all season long heading back and forth between Detroit and Toledo. The repercussions were felt throughout the upper levels of the organization.
While the Tigers protected their top pitching prospects from the fallout, Anthony Castro found himself lost in the shuffle at times. The Tigers started him in relief, moved him back to a full-time starting role, but still leaned on him for occasional bullpen work on short notice.