Catching Up With Jacob Castro
July 16, 2020 | Baseball, Features
Jacob Castro completed his third season with the UC Irvine baseball team this past spring. In the shortened 2020 campaign, the backstop hit .304 (7-23) and tied for second on the team with four doubles while making six starts behind the plate. Castro was also named to the Big West All-Academic team for the first time in his career.
The Oxnard native competed at Rio Mesa High School prior to joining UC Irvine, helping his team win a pair of league championships and earning numerous awards for his accomplishments.
Q: What was your initial reaction when you found out that the baseball season had been canceled due to the pandemic?
A: Obviously, I was pretty disappointed. We had put in a lot of work this off season and were ready to show what we were capable of. The decision to completely shut down our season was incredibly surprising and felt super abrupt. One weekend we were squaring up against Sac State, a day later we were told we'd play spectator-less, and days after that our season was called to halt. It definitely knocked the wind out of us.
Q: What was your favorite thing about this year's squad?
A: This year's squad had a lot of driven, humble, and hungry personalities and it was incredibly fun to be a part of. From transfers to freshman, we had roughly half the team step foot on campus for the first time this year and, despite all the personalities, we were all able to really rally behind each other and build strong relationships.
Q: How have you and your teammates been keeping in contact during the hiatus?
A: We've actually had a number of team Zoom meetings to keep in touch. In these meetings, we've talked about steps we can still take to improve, analyzed the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance, and have met with some awesome presenters. A team group message has also kept us close.
Q: As you move into your fourth season with the Anteaters, what advice would you give to the players just beginning their careers at UCI?
A: I would tell them that once season starts, time goes by way too fast, so really try to take a step back and appreciate the opportunity we have before us. We are so fortunate to attend and play for UCI, and we get treated so incredibly well.
Q: When did you start playing baseball? What do you enjoy most about the game?
A: I started playing baseball really early on, like four or five years old. I had three older brothers who played, so I was eager to follow suit. I love that baseball is a sport where you never stop learning and is a game that can't be perfected. I think that is why so many people are obsessed with it, there are endless scenarios, and it is completely amazing when you witness a rare one (no hitters, etc.).
Q: Can you take us through your experience playing summer ball in the Alaska Baseball League?
A: Everything about Alaska was amazing: the competition, the host families, and even the environment was absolutely breathtaking. I'd never guess that I'd end up playing baseball in Alaska, but it was definitely one of the best experiences I've had.
Q: Is there an MLB player that you model your game after?
A: I don't really fixate on any specific player to model my game after, instead I look at any player and try to emulate some specific skill.
Q: Did you play any other sports when you were growing up?
A: I played basketball and soccer growing up, but I knew I really wanted to focus on baseball. From a younger age (9 or 10) I was heavily invested in club baseball, so to me, baseball was a serious passion and the other sports I played just for fun.
Q: Why did you decide to continue your education at UC Irvine?
A: The UC system had developed my older brothers into some amazing scholars, and I wanted the same. I understood how demanding and rewarding a degree from a UC would be and UC Irvine turned out to be the ideal fit for me. A prestigious university, with an outstanding baseball team, an even better coaching staff, AND I get to live at the beach. What more could you want?
Q: What made you choose to major in Economics?
A: I've always loved math but not to the point where I'd major in it. My understanding and enjoyment of social science came early in taking GE classes. My opinion of an ideal mix between math and social science is Economics, and I am completely happy with my decision to pursue Economics. I really enjoy using math to try and analyze/understand social behavior.
Q: What are your career goals?
A: As of right now, I have no idea the answer to this question, and I'm not sure the majority of 21-year-olds do. I definitely do not have a set career yet, but I do hope one day that I am in a career that I'm completely obsessed with. A career that will make me want to show up every day. I hope that it is socially valuable and purposeful.
