masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles are in the process of arranging a private workout for Rusney Castillo following Saturday’s showcase at the University of Miami, another sign of their growing interest in the Cuban outfielder.

Castillo reportedly worked out for 28 major league teams over the weekend and made a solid impression. He’s been compared to the Yankees’ Brett Gardner with power.

The Orioles first scouted Castillo five months ago in the Dominican Republic following his defection from Cuba.

According to…The Orioles are in the process of arranging a private workout for Rusney Castillo following Saturday’s showcase at the University of Miami, another sign of their growing interest in the Cuban outfielder.

Castillo reportedly worked out for 28 major league teams over the weekend and made a solid impression. He’s been compared to the Yankees’ Brett Gardner with power.

The Orioles first scouted Castillo five months ago in the Dominican Republic following his defection from Cuba.

According to reports, Castillo also will have private workouts this week with the Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies. Baseball America’s Bed Badler ranks the White Sox, Mariners, Giants, Blue Jays, Cubs and Braves as other potential suitors.

Castillo mostly has played center field, but he also can shift to the corners. He concluded Saturday’s showcase by taking ground balls at shortstop.

Castillo played in Serie Nacional, Cuba’s top professional league, for the past five seasons and batted .319/.383/.516 with 51 home runs and 226 RBIs in 360 games. He registered a .342/.408/.574 slash line with 27 stolen bases in 2011-12.

Any team that signs Castillo as a free agent can do so without it counting against their international signing bonus money.

I wonder whether Castillo will be receiving phone calls from Henry Urrutia and Dariel Alvarez. I also wonder whether the Orioles will stay in the bidding if it reaches the levels of Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka, which has been speculated in the industry.

Badler posted video from Castillo’s workout, which can be viewed here.