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Tim Locastro

Timothy Donald Locastro (born July 14, 1992) is an American professional baseball renowned for his exceptional speed and base-running prowess, holding the (MLB) record for the most consecutive successful stolen bases to begin a career with 29. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 200 pounds, the right-handed batter and thrower from , has appeared in 290 MLB games across seven seasons, batting .228 with 9 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 45 stolen bases. Locastro's journey to the majors began at , where he excelled as a standout and , batting .436 with 13 doubles, six triples, and four home runs during his senior year in 2013, helping the Bombers set a school record with 41 wins. That performance earned him a selection by the Jays in the 13th round (385th overall) of the 2013 MLB Draft, after which he spent four seasons in the minors, primarily as a , stealing 30 bases in 41 attempts for the in 2015. Traded to the on July 2, 2015, as part of a deal for international bonus pool space, he made his MLB debut on September 29, 2017, and spent parts of three seasons in the organization before being traded to the Yankees on November 21, 2018, and then to the Diamondbacks on January 16, 2019. In , Locastro transitioned to and emerged as a , posting a .250 average in 91 games during the 2019 season while leading the with 22 hit-by-pitches and tying for second among rookies with 17 s at a perfect 100% success rate (minimum 15 attempts). His record-breaking streak of 29 unfolded in April 2021 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, surpassing ' previous mark of 27. On July 1, 2021, he was traded back to the New York Yankees, with whom he played through 2022 before being non-tendered in December 2022. He then signed a minor-league contract with the in January 2023, appearing in 43 games for them that season. Locastro signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on February 28, 2024 (and re-signed on February 20, 2025), spending 2024 and 2025 in the minors before being released on November 8, 2025, becoming a . As of November 2025, Locastro is a .

Early years

Early life

Timothy Donald Locastro was born on July 14, 1992, in , and raised in nearby . His parents, Tim Sr. and Colleen Locastro, supported his early interests in athletics, with his father taking him to a Yankees game when he was seven years old. Locastro grew up in a Roman Catholic household, attending church regularly on Sundays as part of family traditions influenced by his mother's heritage. He participated in local youth sports, including basketball for St. Mary and parishes in . His family's fandom for the Yankees exposed him to from a young age, fostering his passion for the sport; Locastro has described playing for the Yankees as fulfilling a childhood dream. The Locastros were also avid supporters of , further shaping his early connection to competitive athletics.

Amateur career

Locastro began his organized career at Auburn High School in , where he played on the from 2007 to 2010. As a senior in 2010, he earned all-state honors and served as team captain, lettered three times during his high school tenure, and was coached by TJ Gamba, a former all-American who later became an assistant coach at . After graduating from Auburn High School in 2010, Locastro continued his career at , playing as an and for the Bombers from 2011 to 2013. Over three seasons, he appeared in 113 games, compiling a .385 in 392 at-bats with 151 hits, ranking sixth in program history for career batting average (minimum 200 at-bats). Locastro set Ithaca single-season records in 2013 with 71 runs scored and 40 stolen bases, while his career totals of 146 runs (ninth all-time) and 52 stolen bases (eighth all-time) highlighted his speed and base-running prowess. In his senior year of 2013, Locastro batted .436 with 71 hits in 163 at-bats, including 13 doubles, six triples (tied for sixth all-time), and four home runs, while scoring 71 runs, driving in 36 RBIs, and stealing 40 bases in 41 attempts. He earned consensus All-American honors and was named the Conference Player of the Year, contributing to a school-record 41 wins and a third-place finish at the Championship. Following his standout college performance, Locastro declared eligibility for the 2013 MLB Draft.

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays (2013–2015)

Locastro was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round, 385th overall, of the 2013 June Amateur Draft out of . He signed with the organization on June 13, 2013, and was assigned to the rookie-level of the , where he appeared in 43 games, batting .283 with 12 stolen bases while primarily playing second base and . In 2014, Locastro advanced to the short-season Class A of the , where he played 67 games, hitting .313 and stealing 32 bases, showcasing his speed while logging time at second base, left field, and other outfield spots. His performance earned him a spot on the Mid-Season team and recognition as a MiLB.com Organization for the Blue Jays. By 2015, he reached full-season Class A with the of the , appearing in 70 games before the trade deadline, where he batted .310 with 30 stolen bases, continuing to develop versatility across infield and outfield positions. Throughout his time in the Blue Jays system, Locastro emerged as a speed-oriented , emphasizing base-stealing and positional flexibility to advance through the minors, with his stolen base totals rising each year to highlight his athletic profile. On July 2, 2015, the Blue Jays traded Locastro and pitcher to the in exchange for three international signing bonus pool slots.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2015–2018)

On July 2, 2015, the acquired Tim Locastro from the Toronto Blue Jays organization, along with pitcher , in exchange for three international signing bonus slots. Following the trade, Locastro was assigned to the High-A of the , where he appeared in 41 games, batting .224 with 11 stolen bases. Locastro returned to the Quakes to open the 2016 season, posting a .289 over 86 games while stealing 15 bases and contributing to the team's championship. He earned a promotion to the Double-A of the in midseason, where he hit .277 in 45 games with 9 stolen bases. In 2017, Locastro began the year with , batting .285 in 96 games and recording 22 stolen bases before advancing to the Triple-A Dodgers in late June. There, he excelled with a .388 average across 31 games and 12 stolen bases, finishing the campaign with a combined .308 average and 34 stolen bases in 127 games. Locastro made his major league debut on September 29, 2017, entering as a for in the eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies; he did not record a hit but stole second base in his only . He appeared in two additional games that September, going hitless overall in three contests with one . During the 2018 season, Locastro split time between , where he batted .279 with 18 stolen bases in 83 games, and the major leagues. In 18 games with the Dodgers, he hit .182 (4-for-22) with four stolen bases, primarily serving as a defensive substitute and late-inning runner. On November 21, 2018, the Dodgers traded Locastro to the Yankees in exchange for Drew Finley and cash considerations.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2019–2021)

On January 16, 2019, the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired / Tim Locastro from the New York Yankees in exchange for left-handed pitcher Ronald Roman and cash considerations; Locastro had yet to make an MLB appearance for the Yankees. He debuted with Arizona on April 7, 2019, and went on to appear in 91 games that season, batting .250 with one , 17 stolen bases, and 22 hit-by-pitches. His hit-by-pitches ranked fourth in the , contributing to an of .357. Locastro's speed became a hallmark of his game during this period, building on early demonstrations from his Dodgers days where he succeeded on all eight steal attempts in limited action. In 2019, he established the MLB record for the most consecutive successful stolen bases to start a career, going 29-for-29 from his 2017 debut through April 13, 2021. Statcast measured his average sprint speed at 30.8 feet per second that year, the fastest in MLB among players with at least 10 competitive runs. He maintained elite speed in subsequent seasons, clocking 30.7 feet per second in 2020 (tied for first in MLB) and ranking in the top five in 2021 at 30.7 feet per second. Over the shortened 2020 season and his time with in 2021, Locastro appeared in 88 combined games, batting .231 with 8 s while serving as a versatile across (center, left, and right) and infield (second base, third base, and ). On July 1, 2021, the Diamondbacks traded him to the New York Yankees in exchange for right-handed pitcher Keegan Curtis.

New York Yankees (2021–2022)

On July 1, 2021, the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Locastro to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Keegan Curtis. He made an immediate impact in his brief stint with the team, appearing in nine games and batting .190 with four hits, one , and strong defensive play in before suffering a season-ending injury. Known for his speed—having set a Diamondbacks single-season record with 24 s in 2020—Locastro provided versatile utility as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner. On July 17, 2021, during a game against the Boston Red Sox, Locastro tore the () in his right knee while making a running catch at the outfield wall, ending his season after just over two weeks with the Yankees. He underwent on July 21, 2021, which sidelined him for the remainder of the year and much of the 2022 as he began rehabilitation. Following the injury, the Yankees designated him for assignment in November 2021; he was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox but non-tendered by them shortly after, entering free agency. The Yankees re-signed Locastro to a one-year split contract worth $900,000 on , 2022, valuing his potential as a speed and defense specialist once recovered. However, his return was hampered by ongoing recovery setbacks, including multiple stints on the for back spasms and other issues, limiting him to 38 games with a .186 , two home runs, and eight stolen bases. He shuttled between the majors and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre six times during the season, providing sporadic contributions in pinch-running and outfield defense when active. Locastro's tenure with the Yankees concluded on November 10, 2022, when he elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to the minors after being removed from the 40-man roster.

New York Mets (2023)

On January 11, 2023, the signed Tim Locastro to a minor league contract with an invitation to . During , Locastro impressed with his speed, posting a .364 and six stolen bases, which helped him secure a spot on the roster. The Mets selected his contract from Triple-A Syracuse on March 30, 2023, adding him to the 26-man roster as a utility . Recovering from a torn sustained with the Yankees in 2021 that limited his 2022 season, Locastro made his Mets debut as a on April 15, 2023. He appeared in four games before being placed on the 10-day on April 17 with back spasms. During , he suffered a sprain in his right thumb, leading to a transfer to the 60-day on May 19. Locastro completed rehab assignments across multiple levels, including Syracuse, before being activated on August 8, 2023. In 43 games with the Mets during the 2023 season, Locastro batted .232 with two home runs, six stolen bases, and a .731 . He primarily served as a late-inning defensive replacement in the outfield and a , utilizing his elite sprint speed to provide baserunning threats and solid glove work in the corners. His speed contributed to successful steals in key situations, enhancing the Mets' late-game options despite limited at-bats. Following the season, Locastro was removed from the 40-man roster and elected free agency on November 6, 2023.

San Diego Padres (2024–2025)

On February 28, 2024, Locastro signed a minor league contract with the Padres organization, which included an invitation to spring training camp, and was subsequently assigned to the Triple-A . During the 2024 season, injuries significantly restricted Locastro's playing time, limiting him to 33 games with El Paso where he recorded a .333 , two home runs, 11 , and eight stolen bases across 120 plate appearances. He spent much of the year on the full-season and underwent shoulder surgery in July 2024, preventing any appearances with the Padres. Locastro re-signed with the Padres on a minor league contract on February 20, 2025. He began the season with the Padres before being promoted to El Paso on April 20, 2025, but was placed on the 7-day on May 4, 2025. After recovery, he appeared in 104 games with El Paso, batting .270 with nine home runs, 52 , and 32 stolen bases. On November 6, 2025, Locastro elected free agency following the conclusion of his contract. Throughout his time with the Padres, he functioned primarily as organizational depth in the outfield and infield, though persistent injuries prevented a return to action. As of November 18, 2025, he remains an unsigned .

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