| Carlos Gastélum | |
| Team: | Toros de Tijuana |
| Position: | Infielder / Manager |
| Birth Date: | 29 October 1979 |
| Birth Place: | Huatabampo, Sonora, Mexico |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Highlights: |
|
Carlos Alberto "El Chispa" Gastélum (pronounced as /es/; born October 29, 1979) is a Mexican professional baseball infielder and current manager for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He plays for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, as well as Venados de Mazatlán in the Mexican Pacific League in the winter.[1] He started practicing baseball at the age of three years in his native Huatabampo, Sonora in the infancy category of a team called Ibarra Hermanos Ceballos. Gastélum often wears the number 5 on his uniform, as his firstborn child was born on the 5th.
Gastélum joined the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League for the 2005 season, and played with the club through the 2018 season. He became a free agent after the 2018 season.
On April 3, 2019, he signed with the Pericos de Puebla. In 53 games for Puebla, he hit .278/.337/.385 with three home runs and 20 RBI. On October 4, Gastélum retired from professional baseball.[2]
On June 5, 2024, Gastélum was activated by Quintana Roo as a player, while still serving as the manager of the club.[3] He appeared in only one game for Quintana Roo, walking in his only plate appearance.
On June 11, 2024, Gastélum was traded to the Toros de Tijuana, and was demoted to role of a coach for his new club.[4]
On December 27, 2022, Gastelum was hired by the Toros de Tijuana to serve as the team's first base coach and base running/defense instructor for the 2023 season.[5]
On July 26, 2024, Gastélum was appointed manager of Tijuana, replacing Dan Firova.[6]