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11/08/2009 1:00 PM ET Catcher Jason Castro wraps up eventful season Astros Want Top Prospect To Rest After Busy 2009

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The Astros have decided to send catcher Jason Castro home from the Arizona Fall League today after what has been an eventful 2009 season, General Manager Ed Wade announced today.

Castro, 22, was the starting catcher for the West squad in last night's Rising Stars Game, which was televised by the MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com. The game, which was won by the West, 8-7, is a showcase of the top players in the Arizona Fall League.

Last night's game will be the last of the season for Castro, who has played for several teams at various locations in 2009. After beginning the season in Kissimmee, FL as a non-roster invitee to the Astros Major League Spring Training camp, Castro started the regular season in Lancaster, CA, as a member of the Lancaster JetHawks (A). After posting a .309 average with seven HR and 44 RBI in 56 games there, he was promoted to Corpus Christi (AA).

While at Corpus, Castro hit .293 in 63 games. In July, he was named to Team USA for the XM Futures All-Star Game in St. Louis, where he hit a three-run home run that gave his club a temporary 5-3 lead in a game eventually won by the World Team. In September, Castro played for the Team USA squad that went 14-1 and captured the Gold Medal in the International Baseball Federation World Cup, defeating Cuba in the championship game in Nettuno, Italy on September 27th. In October, Castro joined the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

"After talking to the staff and spending the week in Arizona, we feel it's time for Jason to rest and focus on the 2010 season," said Ricky Bennett, the Astros Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Development. "Jason has made tremendous progress throughout his first full season of professional baseball. From a developmental standpoint, he's done everything we've asked of him every step of the way, both offensively and defensively."

Castro was the Astros first pick in the June 2008 MLB Draft after hitting a team-best .376 at Stanford University with 14 home runs and 73 RBI en route to being named to the All Pac-10 team.

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