Nick Castellanos’ time with the Philadelphia Phillies has been anything but dull. After earning the team’s lone All-Star nod in 2023, his up-and-down play both at the plate and in the field has sparked plenty of debate.
He entered off the bench in the sixth inning of an 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, belting his 250th career homer in the eighth and tacking on an RBI single in the ninth. It marked the first time he notched multiple RBIs in a game as a pinch-hitter.
“I’m here to do whatever I can to help Philadelphia win a World Series,” Castellanos told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki after the game. “Whatever that takes, I’ll give my best effort.”
His focus remains firmly on the present — as it should — particularly with his role in question now that he’s sharing right-field duties with Max Kepler.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson has consistently urged even his veterans to leave their egos behind, but his trust has increasingly leaned toward Max Kepler, Harrison Bader, and Brandon Marsh. That shift has left many fans questioning the level of communication between Thomson and his players. By June, his relationship with Castellanos had already shown signs of moving from strained to beyond repair.
Nick Castellanos sheds light on his perspective of the strained relationship between him and Rob Thomson
“Over the years, communication has been hit-or-miss, at least from what I’ve experienced,” Castellanos told reporters after Friday’s game, via Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation. “But I also grew up with my father, who communicates in a very blunt, direct, and consistent way.”
Nick Castellanos’ stint with the Philadelphia Phillies has been anything but uneventful. After serving as the team’s lone All-Star in 2023, his hot-and-cold play both at the plate and in the field has created a noticeable divide.
On Friday, he came off the bench in the sixth inning of an 8-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, delivering his 250th career home run in the eighth and an RBI single in the ninth. It marked his first multi-RBI game as a pinch-hitter.
“I’m here to do whatever I can to make sure Philadelphia wins a World Series ring,” Castellanos said after the game, via MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “Whatever that takes, I’ll give it my best shot.”
His focus remains on the present — a necessity given that his everyday role is now uncertain with Max Kepler sharing right-field duties.
Manager Rob Thomson has consistently preached for even his veteran players to check their egos, but his confidence has shifted toward Kepler, Harrison Bader, and Brandon Marsh. That shift has left fans questioning the communication between Thomson and his players. By June, Castellanos’ relationship with the skipper appeared to move from strained to beyond repair.
Shedding light on that dynamic, Castellanos admitted after Friday’s game: “Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience. But I also grew up communicating with my father, who was very blunt, direct, and consistent,” he told reporters, per Phillies Nation’s Destiny Lugardo.
Castellanos had played 236 straight games before being benched in June following an “inappropriate comment.” Since then, his role has shifted.
“I don’t really talk to Rob all that often,” Castellanos added. “I just play when he tells me to play, and I sit when he tells me to sit.”
Castellanos is hitting .255 this season with 17 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .710 OPS. But since July, his numbers have dipped to just .206/.262/.346 with seven homers and 24 RBIs. For a veteran with his level of experience, settling into a platoon role isn’t ideal. Still, he’s embraced it, putting the team first and staying locked in on the present.
“There have just been times where things were said. Over the years, I’ve built expectations based on those words, but then the actions didn’t match,” Castellanos admitted. “And then I’m left kind of wondering. But, you know, it is what it is.”
Even with outside narratives trying to stir the pot, Castellanos’ commitment to his teammates is obvious as Red October returns to South Philly. He’s battled alongside them in three straight postseasons, and that bond remains strong.
Though his on-field role has shrunk, his passion for the city and determination to help deliver a World Series championship haven’t wavered.