After a successful start to the first half season that saw Williamsport in first by as many as two and a half games, an unprecedented July collapse saw the Cutters drop 11 straight games, plummeting them to last in the standings with a 12-18 mark.

But the second half campaign brings new opportunities for Williamsport. With the league transitioning to a professional organization, 16 new athletes will wear the Cutter colors with a spot in the MLB Draft League championship still vacant.

But in the excitement of newcomers and a new campaign, old names still persist with 10 ballplayers coming back from the first half for a shot at redemption and MLB Draft League glory.

Of the familiar faces, none were more apparent from the first half then Carlos Castillo. It was, in the middle infielder’s own words, an “eventful” time in Williamsport for the Miami native so far.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazettea Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters talks about returning to the team after the draft break at Bowman Field.

“It’s been an eventful ride,” echoed Castillo. “But it’s fun. It’s been a fun atmosphere with the coaches and the team. It’s a fun place to be at, for sure.”

In a first half to forget, Castillo was one of the few batters that remained on the team from start to finish, continuing his run into the Draft League second half. Castillo featured in 23 of Williamsport’s 28 games in the first half, compiling a .243 average that ranked fourth among qualified hitters.

Additionally, Castillo was a mainstay in the field, playing second base for a majority of his appearances with the Cutters.

Now in the second half season, the 24 year old remains a veteran preseason in a clubhouse full of ambition.

“(I’m trying) to just stay myself,” said Castillo prior to the second half opener vs. the Trenton Thunder on Wednesday night. “I’ll try to help the younger guys to understand the game a little; to understand what it is like in this league.”

Carlos Castillo of the Williamsport Crosscutters runs back to the dug out smiling after catching Ethan Hott of the Black Bears stealing second to end the top of the 5th inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Castillo is one of 11 members of the roster remaining in the second half, with only Christian Reyes (12) making double digit appearances at the plate heading into Wednesday. With Reyes coming into the fold in mid-June, Castillo became the only batter on the opening day roster to take part in the second half. Other batting returnees Matt Flaherty, Joey Parliament and Michael Zarillo were not scheduled to join the Cutters until the second half, but were called in early due to the lack of quality at the plate.

No area of the ballpark benefits more from returnees than the bullpen. Of the six pitchers returning for the second half, five are natural relievers with Jed Boyle, Brad Rudis, Sam Swygert, and Jared Ure making eight or more appearances in the first half season.

Most notable of the returners are Boyle and Rudis, who’s 3.38 and 2.70 ERA’s immediately pinpoint them as one of the stronger reliever duo’s in the campaign.

“It’s a pretty abnormal amount (of returnees),” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “They know a little bit about what is going on. They can help the new guys kind of figure things out.”

“They know the ropes a little bit around here,” Thomas continued. “Hopefully they’ll lead people exactly what it takes around here to be successful. I’m very proud of those guys, and hopefully they will play well too. ”

Of the new additions to the Crosscutters, most arrived in Williamsport last weekend with Williamsport’s coaching staff seeing just two days worth of practice before Wednesday’s second-half opener.