Written By Mauricio Segura // Image Created By: The Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
November 6, 2026
When a pitching staff surrenders 247 home runs, the search for answers can stretch well beyond the bullpen. The Athletics have chosen a man who spent years teaching pitchers how to improve, naming 36-year-old Cam Castro their general manager on November 4. His assignment is considerably larger than finding the next dependable starter. Working under newly hired president of baseball operations Taylor Smith, Castro must help turn a 64-98 club into an organization capable of developing talent instead of constantly searching elsewhere for it.
The A’s introduced Castro on November 5 at their Experience Center in Las Vegas, barely a week after his former employer, the Milwaukee Brewers, celebrated a World Series championship. Milwaukee went 103-59 during the regular season, the best record in franchise history, then defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in five games for the title. Castro was the Brewers’ senior vice president of player development and performance. His responsibilities stretched from minor-league instruction to athletic performance and medical operations, with regular communication between the front office and major-league coaches. He was not simply an executive reviewing scouting reports. His career began much closer to the mound.
A graduate of Lake Erie College with a degree in legal studies, Castro later earned a master’s in sports management from Defiance College. He coached college baseball at both schools, worked as a throwing trainer for Driveline Baseball, and joined Milwaukee in 2019 as a Single-A pitching coach. He progressed through pitching coordinator and development director positions before taking a senior leadership role. The route matters because the Athletics are hiring someone who has worked directly with the players, coaches and systems that can make a promising arm more effective.
The scale of that assignment is hard to miss. Athletics pitchers finished 2026 with a 5.51 ERA, allowing 937 runs and issuing 637 walks. Their 247 home runs surrendered were a franchise record. Jeffrey Springs went 4-14 with a 6.18 ERA and allowed 35 homers in 142 2/3 innings. Jack Perkins struck out 140 batters but posted a 6.10 ERA. There were exceptions: J.T. Ginn recorded a 3.71 ERA and 121 strikeouts across 138 1/3 innings. Rookie Gage Jump struck out 108 in 98 2/3 innings, although his 5.47 ERA showed how much learning remained. Castro inherits more than a shortage of talent. He inherits pitchers at very different stages of development.
Milwaukee offers an encouraging comparison, though no single executive can claim ownership of a championship. Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings during 2026, leading the majors in several pitching categories. His rise illustrates what a productive development pipeline can deliver. Castro said during his introduction that he favors clear information and rapid feedback, whether a pitcher is working in a laboratory, throwing a bullpen session or practicing on a field. Smith plans to give him oversight of major- and minor-league development, coaching, conditioning, nutrition and medical performance, plus a voice in roster and staffing decisions.
The Athletics also have hitters worth building around. Nick Kurtz, the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year, hit 21 home runs with a .879 OPS despite playing only 99 games in 2026. Catcher Shea Langeliers hit 23 homers, Zack Gelof added 22 and Tyler Soderstrom contributed 19. Shortstop Jacob Wilson batted .266 in 80 games. Injuries hurt badly: Kurtz, Wilson, Langeliers, Soderstrom and Brent Rooker collectively missed 368 games, while Opening Day starter Luis Severino did not pitch again after a shoulder injury in May. Better health would help. So would a pitching staff capable of protecting the runs those bats produce.
Castro replaces David Forst, whose tenure ended in August, after Dan Feinstein served as interim general manager. Taylor Smith, 31, joined the Athletics in October after front-office work with Tampa Bay and Boston. Their partnership is young, but their task is anything but small. Castro cannot erase a 98-loss season with a press conference or a new training philosophy. He can, however, help determine whether the next promising pitcher becomes another unanswered question or a reason for fans to believe. The A’s have hired a general manager. What they really need is a better way to turn potential into outs.
