Castillo gearing up to audition for MLB teams

Cuban outfield prospect Rusney Castillo has been compared to Brett Gardner.

Others see him as a player similar to Jacoby Ellsbury. One scout compared him to Kenny Lofton.

What's certain is the 27-year-old prospect is training in Florida, he's ready to sign and will likely join a Major League team soon after his showcase on July 26 at the University of Miami. Castillo, who left Cuba six months ago, established residency in Haiti and was cleared by the U.S. government to sign with a team last week. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound outfielder has also been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball.

Castillo is represented by Roc Nation Sports, a joint venture between Roc Nation and CAA Sports.

The Cubs, White Sox, Braves and Giants are among the teams that have expressed interest in Castillo, according to industry sources. But scouts and front-office executives from every team are expected at his workout next weekend.

Here's what we know: Castillo is a right-handed hitter with power, has plus-plus speed and is viewed by some as a line-drive hitter. Scouts also like his athleticism. He'll have to start the season in the Minor Leagues, but there's a belief that he could be in the big leagues by the end of the season. He's expected to compete for a starting job in Spring Training.