The Philadelphia Phillies are battling for the top seed in the National League, but behind the scenes, there seems to be some tension between outfielder Nick Castellanos and manager Rob Thomson. For most of his career, Castellanos has been a fixture in the starting lineup, but this season his role has shifted. Instead of playing every day, he now finds himself spending more time on the bench, a change that has clearly tested his patience.
Despite the adjustment, Castellanos has still managed to contribute. On Friday night, he came in as a pinch-hitter and delivered two hits, one of which was the 250th home run of his career. However, after the game, he voiced frustration about how his situation has been handled, particularly pointing to a lack of communication with Thomson.
“I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. I play whenever he tells me to play and I sit whenever he tells me to sit,” Castellanos told reporters, according to On Pattison’s postgame video shared on X. “Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience.”
Thomson addressed those remarks the following day. Rather than firing back, the manager admitted he could be better while also stressing that communication has to go both ways.
“If Nick, or anyone in that clubhouse, feels I’m not communicating enough, then I’m probably not,” Thomson said Saturday, per On Pattison. “That’s on me, and I have to improve. But players also have to come forward—I’m not a mind reader. My door is always open, and I want them to share what’s on their mind.” He added that he had already spoken privately with Castellanos and described the conversation as “really productive.”
For now, the Phillies’ success may hinge on Castellanos finding a way to thrive in his adjusted role. If he can provide key at-bats off the bench and keep contributing when called upon, Philadelphia’s chances of making a deep postseason run and contending for the World Series will only improve.