COLORADO SPRINGS - Vinny Castilla figures he'll be ready to help the Rockies in a few more days.

Castilla, who had some of the best years of his 16-season major league career in his two stints as a member of the Rockies, was released by San Diego on July 19 but signed by Colorado as a free agent Aug. 14.

He has been playing with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox and is expected to be called up to the Rockies when teams are allowed to expand major league rosters Friday.

After playing last week as a designated hitter in a series in Salt Lake City, he started at third base and went 2-for-3 for the Sky Sox in Monday night's 10-7 victory against the Las Vegas 51s at Security Service Field.

"It made me very happy that the Rockies wanted me," Castilla said before Monday's game. "I'm working hard so I can help them in September. I probably need a couple more games.

"It's kind of like spring training for me. I didn't play for a month. I did some batting practice before I started playing and did some work at Coors Field. I got some at-bats at Salt Lake. I feel good. You can get out of shape in a month, especially in baseball. You lose your timing quick."

Castilla singled twice and scored one run and had two putouts and one assist at third base. Josh Wilson pinch ran for Castilla after his fifth-inning hit.

In six Sky Sox games, Castilla is batting .458 with three doubles and four RBI.

Castilla plans to retire after the season and take a job with the Rockies organization next season.

Meanwhile, he's trying to get in shape for his farewell games in the majors.

Castilla, a National League All-Star in 1995 and 1998, averaged 38 home runs and 112 RBI between 1995 and 1999 with the Rockies. He hit a career-high 46 home runs in 1998, the same season he had a career-best 144 RBI. He led the league with 131 RBI in 2004.

"This organization gave me the opportunity to become the player I am, and I want to retire as a Rockie, and I'm very thankful for the organization to give me a chance to do that," Castilla said.

Castilla, 39, is ready to do whatever he can to help the Rockies mount a late-season rally and get into wild card contention.

"I won't play every day up there," he said. "When somebody needs a rest, I'll pick them up and come off the bench against a tough left-handed pitcher as a pinch hitter. That'll be my role.

"I think I can help the young kids to stay loose. It's not easy to be so young in the middle of a pennant race."

Castilla is the most prolific Mexican-born, major league player. He is the leader in hits (1,880), home runs (319), doubles (349), RBI (1,101), runs (900), extra-base hits (696) and total bases (3,242).

He hopes to add to those totals next month.

MONDAY'S SUMMARY

Las Vegas......100	030	201	-	7	10	0
Colorado Springs......032	031	10x	-	10	19	3

Jimenez, Asencio (7), Cortes (8), Colyer (9) and Closser. Houlton, Ketchner (6), Miller (8), and Langill.

W - Jimenez (5-2). L - Houlton (8-11). HR - None. T - 3:04. A - 1,989.

Castilla with Sky Sox

Date Opponent AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO Avg.

Aug. 23 at Salt Lake 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 .200

Aug. 24 at Salt Lake 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .750

Aug. 25 at Salt Lake 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 .400

Aug. 26 at Salt Lake 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .200

Aug. 27 at Salt Lake 2 3 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.000

Aug. 28 Las Vegas 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .667

Totals 24 5 11 3 0 0 4 2 5 .458

bentonj@RockyMountainNews.com

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