Ruben Castro was sentenced to 25 years for fatally stabbing former Banquete Bulldogs player Anthony Gomez, as emotions ran high in the Corpus Christi courtroom.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nearly two years after the murder of former Banquete Bulldogs baseball standout Anthony Gomez, the man responsible has officially been sentenced.
Ruben Castro appeared in Judge McCauley’s courtroom Wednesday afternoon, where he admitted to fatally stabbing Gomez during a violent encounter in downtown Corpus Christi back in June 2024.
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As part of a plea deal reached between attorneys and Gomez’s family, Castro was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Corpus Christi police say officers responded to Taylor Street after reports of a stabbing. When they arrived, they found Gomez suffering from critical wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later died.
For many in the Coastal Bend, Gomez was more than a victim.
He was remembered as a hometown athlete and former Banquete Bulldogs pitcher who helped send the team to the state tournament in 2016 — striking out the final batter in a moment many fans still remember today.
Inside the courtroom, emotions ran high as victim impact statements were read aloud.
Two of Gomez’s sisters spoke directly to Castro, describing the heartbreak, pain, and lasting damage his actions caused their family.
The courtroom remained emotional throughout the hearing as loved ones remembered Gomez not only for his athletic accomplishments, but for the person they say was taken too soon.