Castro remains Astros' MLBPA representative

HOUSTON -- It was no surprise that Astros catcher Jason Castro, who recently got his degree from Stanford, was re-elected by his teammates Wednesday to be the team's representative to the Major League Baseball Players Association for two more years.

Pitcher Dallas Keuchel, third baseman Matt Dominguez and rookie outfielder George Springer were chosen as alternate player representatives. Castro said it was important for some of the younger players to take a more active role like he did when he was called up in 2010.

"Guys that will be here for a while will benefit from learning about the ins and outs of the Players Association and the kind of impact they can have on bargaining agreements and day-to-day operations around baseball," Castro said.

The player rep is charged with keeping his teammates informed about the Collective Bargaining Agreement and any other issues involved the MLBPA. He'll also attend meetings at different points throughout the season. Castro takes the role seriously.

"The Players Association has had such an integral role in progressing the game to where it is now, if it weren't for the guys before us and their effort to get us where we are, we wouldn't have all the things we kind of sometimes take for granted," Castro said. "I think it's important for us to be educated and not just come here and play. It's up to us to continue to push for progress and kind of acknowledge the things the people before us have done for us."

Castro was thrust into the alternate club rep role in 2010 when he was called up and joined a veteran team of players who had for the most part paid their dues as reps at some point.

Springer said he's going to learn as much as he can.

"[Castro] talked to me about it earlier in the day and just explained to me how it works and all that stuff, and I think as a player it's something I need and something that could help me and everyone else," he said.