Cubs Welington Castillo Done For Season With Right Knee Injury

Sep 12, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher

(53) chases Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop

(not pictured) in a rundown during the fourth inning at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs catcher Welington Castillo is done for the season due to a partial meniscus tear in his right knee, which will require arthroscopic surgery according to MLB.com Cubs beat writer Carrie Muskat.

Castillo suffered the injury during Thursday’s game in Milwaukee while running to first on a routine grounder in the sixth inning. He went 0-for-3 on the day with one strikeout.

In his first season as the Cubs regular catcher he hit .217 (103-for-380) with 23 doubles, 8 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 34 walks in 113 games.

“He had a fantastic year,” Epstein said. “I think it’s a developmental success story in every facet. With catching, it starts with winning the trust with your pitchers and putting the right fingers down and he did an outstanding job. He’s really involved in game planning and game calling. I think every pitcher now loves throwing to him. He did an outstanding job defensively. His blocking has been at an elite level.”

Switch-hitter Dioner Navarro will start at catcher in the three-game series opener on Friday against the Braves.

Navarro has hit .300 (65-for-217) with seven doubles, 12 HRs, 31 RBIs, and 20 walks in 82 games this season.

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