Where were you when you were 19 years old? In college? Dead end job? That’s not where Starlin Castro is right now. The Cubs’ shortstop prospect from the Dominican Republic is on the cusp of making the big league team, it’s just a matter of when.

          Castro is ranked as the highest prospect in the Cubs organization and 22nd highest in all of baseball. His rocket-fast progression through the Cubs organization has been the biggest surprise of all, moving all the way up to AA Tennessee (along with being the Arizona Fall League’s MVP as its youngest member) last year at age 19.

          Some estimates have Castro in the majors by mid-June, while others say that he could be with the Cubs on opening day. Cubs VP of player personnel Oneri Fleita has said multiple times that as soon as Castro says that he’s ready, he’ll be with the major league team.

         A lot will depend on how Castro performs in Spring Training, which he was invited to this year. As expected, current shortstop Ryan Theriot said that he would gladly move to second base to make room for Castro, who hopes to be the Cubs’ best shortstop since Shawon Dunston. 

         Either way, it seems like the speedy soon-to-be 20-year old Castro will be ready to lead off for the Cubs at some point this year and that certainly is a welcome change.