PITTSBURGH — Three years ago, Jose Castillo made the jump from Class AA to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Bucs' regular second baseman for the past three seasons, he appeared to be one of the young cogs counted on to reverse the ballclub's losing ways.

But since then:

• Castillo hit only two of his 14 home runs of 2006 during the final two months of the season.

• He hit .091 (4-for-44 in the final 16 games of last year.

• His work ethic was publicly criticized by shortstop Jack Wilson during the off-season.

• He lost his starting position during spring training to third baseman Jose Bautista, with defending National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez moving to second base.

"You just keep working hard and wait for your opportunity to play," Castillo said, shrugging his shoulders. "Stay involved any way you can."

That hasn't been easy for Castillo. After starting 141 games at second base last year, he started only six of the first 36 games there in 2007.

Through those 36 games, Castillo had garnered only 35 at bats and began the season with one hit in his first 17 trips to the plate.

Suddenly, Bautista sprained an ankle last Sunday against Atlanta and Castillo found himself in the lineup for each of the four games against the Florida Marlins this past week — as a third baseman.

He had never started a big league game at third base before, yet fielded the position flawlessly against the Marlins.

"I've had plenty of work there," Castillo said of third base. "I was ready to go. It felt good to be back in the lineup."

Castillo's bat came alive against Florida as well. He began the series hitting .200 (7 for 35) with one double and no RBI all season.

He ended the series having hit safely in all four games, collecting four RBI, two doubles and raising his average to .245.

"The job he did at third base and the at-bat he had against (Matt) Lindstrom ... I can't say enough about Jose Castillo," Pirate manager Jim Tracy said.

Castillo fell behind 0-2 in the count against Lindstrom's 98 mile-per-hour fastball in the eighth inning Monday before battling back and drilling a two-run double off the wall in right-center field, the key hit in a five-run inning for the Bucs.

"That's where I like to drive the ball," Castillo said. "Get the meat part of the bat on it and knock it out there."

Like the Castillo of old.

"Castillo has as much power as anyone on the club," Tracy said. "When he has disciplined at bats, he gets better pitches to hit. That's what we've been working with him on."

When Bautista's ankle comes around, Castillo figures to make his way back to the bench.

At age 26, he appears to be a man without a position ... or with many positions.

He made his first major league start at shortstop Friday night and contributed two more hits.

"This hasn't been easy on him," Tracy admitted. "But that kid never quit on us. He hasn't sulked. His attitude and approach to the game have been fantastic.

"When he works the count, he can be very dangerous with a bat in his hands."

For now, Castillo has to stay satisfied with helping the team through significant at bats — like the one against Lindstrom.

"Not playing every day, you can struggle with your timing," Castillo said. "Trying to catch up to 98 miles per hour isn't easy."

Neither is adjusting to the role of bench player after three years as a starter.

"You have to stay into the game," Castillo said. "Because in this game, you never know what's going to happen from one day to the next."