Philadelphia Phillies skipper Rob Thomson addressed his latest decision regarding right fielder Nick Castellanos after Friday’s game. For the first time since their highly publicized clash back in mid-June—a dispute that ultimately led to Castellanos being benched the following day—Thomson opted to make a late-game defensive substitution for him.
According to Thomson, the situation simply hadn’t called for such a move in the weeks since, but when the right scenario finally presented itself, he wasn’t afraid to make the call. He emphasized that every decision is rooted in doing what’s best for the team and reflects the “all-in” mindset he expects from the clubhouse if they’re going to achieve success together. Despite knowing Castellanos might not fully agree with the switch, Thomson made the move, showing he’s willing to stand by tough choices for the sake of the group.
Rob Thomson tells Nick Castellanos, Phillies to check their egos at the door
According to Anthony SanFilippo of Philly Daily, Nick Castellanos admitted that he has been working on defensive adjustments in an effort to improve his play in the outfield for the Phillies. His performance on Friday reflected some of that progress, as he recorded four putouts and even tallied an outfield assist. Still, Castellanos didn’t appear pleased afterward. When asked if it was frustrating not to be on the field for the final inning, his answer was short and telling: “Yes.”
As the Phillies held on to a narrow 2-1 advantage in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves, manager Rob Thomson made the call to swap Nick Castellanos out of right field for Harrison Bader, according to MLB.com’s Paul Casella. Naturally, the move drew attention, as it marked the first time since the heated June incident—when Castellanos was benched following a dispute with Thomson—that such a substitution had been made. While the two sides eventually patched things up, the situation hadn’t resurfaced until Friday. Even so, Thomson stood firm in his approach, stressing that the needs of the team always come first.
“At this point, we’re all committed,” Thomson explained to Anthony SanFilippo. “Every night, the focus is on whatever gives us the best chance to win. Leave the ego at the door—this is about the team.”
Phillies fans can respect the straightforward approach from their manager, knowing that success depends on everyone buying into the bigger picture. While this Phillies roster leans heavily on veteran talent, that doesn’t lessen the importance of having a strong guiding presence in the dugout. For Thomson, staying true to his philosophy—and getting his players to embrace it—is essential. He’s also earned recognition in his own right, holding the best winning percentage of any manager in franchise history with at least 500 games under his belt, posting a 329-242 (.576) mark.
As for Castellanos, his often complicated dynamic with the media in Philadelphia isn’t likely to shift after this past weekend. He’s never been shy about voicing his opinions, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the reality is that his expectation of being in the lineup every day doesn’t always align with what gives the Phillies their best chance to win.
