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san Diego Padres fans, get ready to see a familiar blur-but this time in a coaching uniform.Former Major League outfielder Tim Locastro has landed his first professional coaching role, joining the Padres as their baserunning and outfield coordinator.
the Padres announced the move, effectively bringing a seven-year MLB career to a close for the 33-year-old. Locastro’s transition feels natural,having spent the past two seasons with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate,the el Paso chihuahuas,after signing a minor league deal in February 2024.
“He’s not just fast,” former Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said in 2021, per ESPN. “He’s a good baseball player who’s learned how to hit.”
From Speed to Strategy: A look Back at Tim Locastro’s Career
Tim Locastro wasn’t a power hitter or a run producer, but his remarkable speed translated into a remarkable ability to steal bases.
Throughout his MLB career, Locastro successfully stole 45 bases in 50 attempts-a 90% success rate that ranks among the best in modern baseball history. In April 2021, he even surpassed Hall of Famer Tim Raines’ record for most consecutive stolen bases to start a career without being caught, reaching an unbelievable 29 straight before finally being thrown out on April 17, 2021. so remarkable was the feat, the Baseball Hall of Fame requested his cleats from that record-breaking game.
A Journey Through the Majors
The upstate New York native appeared in 290 Major League games over seven seasons (2017-2023) with the Los Angeles Dodgers,Arizona Diamondbacks,New York Yankees,and New York Mets.
Locastro finished his MLB career with a .228 batting average, a.327 on-base percentage, a .337 slugging percentage, nine home runs, 38 RBIs, and those 45 stolen bases. While his offensive numbers weren’t overwhelming, his defensive versatility and, of course, his speed, kept him on MLB rosters for years.
His professional baseball journey began when the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.The Dodgers later acquired him in a minor league trade in 2015,sending right-handed pitching prospect Chase De Jong to Toronto.
Locastro spent two years developing in the Dodgers’ minor league system before receiving a September call-up in 2017.His 2017 season with the Oklahoma City Triple-A affiliate was particularly impressive, where he batted.388 with a .987 OPS across 31 games.
Despite those strong Triple-A numbers, Locastro struggled to find consistent playing time with the Dodgers, appearing in just 18 games across two seasons (2017-18) and hitting .182 with a .630 OPS before being designated for assignment after the 2018 season.
The Diamondbacks claimed locastro off waivers, giving him his first real opportunity in the majors in 2019. He responded with 91 games played and a .697 OPS, showcasing his baserunning skills. The shortened 2020 season saw him post an .859 OPS in 50 games.
locastro’s performance dipped in 2021, leading to a mid-season trade to the Yankees. He spent a season and a half in New York, primarily as a pinch-running specialist. after the 2022 season, the Yankees declined to extend him a qualifying offer, and he signed with the Mets for what would
