“Wouldn’t respect a guy…”- Phillies Manager Flips Nick Castellanos Turmoil to His Advantage as Clubhouse Drama Boils Over

Voicing his frustration hasn’t exactly worked out in Nick Castellanos favor. Back in June, he was benched following an “inappropriate” comment he made to Rob Thomson after being removed from a game for defensive purposes. Now, once again, Castellanos hasn’t really been thrilled with Thomson’s ways.

He had been the Phillies’ everyday right fielder since he signed with the club prior to the 2022 season. In fact, he had played all 162 games last season. This season, however, he missed three of the previous eight games before Friday’s game against the Braves, during which he was removed after the eighth inning for defensive purposes.

It’s been a “big adjustment” for Nick Castellanos to not be able to play everyday. When asked how he was handling it, his answer was brief but telling: “The best I can.”

Turning Castellanos’ potential turmoil into a reflection of the team’s all-in mentality, Thomson addressed the situation before Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

“Nick just wants to play. That’s it. I think most guys get frustrated when they don’t play. Because they want to play. And that’s normal,” he said.

Thomson had mentioned that everyone in the lineup is “all in” on doing whatever it takes to win at this point of the season. The mantra he has set is “Check your ego at the door and let’s go.”

Further, when Thomson was asked Saturday if that is something Nick Castellanos is capable of doing, he said, “Absolutely.” “We don’t need to make a big deal out of this. He’s frustrated because he wants to play and that’s it. I understand that. I wouldn’t respect a guy if he wanted to come out of the game,” he added.

Apparently, instead of Thomson, it was first base and outfield coach Paco Figueroa who told Castellanos that he was coming out of Friday’s game.

Later, Thomson was asked why he didn’t deliver the news to Castellanos himself.

“Because he was on base (when the bottom of the eighth inning ended). I wasn’t going to run out there (on the field). I couldn’t tell him before he went to the plate. If he hits a home run, I probably don’t take him out of the game.”

When the Phillies were ahead by just one run entering the ninth inning, Thomson decided to put his three best defensive outfielders on the field. For Nick Castellanos, that meant a seat on the bench despite starting the game.

Nick Castellanos is frustrated with the new role

Castellanos is currently hitting .197 with a .554 OPS in 33 games since the All-Star break. He was in the Phillies’ lineup Saturday against Atlanta Braves’ left-hander Chris Sale. Apparently, the Phillies’ outfield trio of Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler had been underwhelming for most of the year. It forced the management to trade for Harrison Bader.

The Phillies’ acquisition of Bader has led to a rotation in the outfield, which has even forced an All-Star like Nick Castellanos out of an everyday role. Apparently, Castellanos is enduring a mediocre season and was pulled from Friday night’s game as a defensive replacement, despite making a great catch earlier in the game. It’s something he’s used to and had a confrontation with Thomson about it.

Well, sure, Bader is a better defender than Nick Castellanos. Moreover, the numbers support the team too after replacing Castellanos in the outfield to put the Phillies’ best defense on the field late in a game.

But when Castellanos was asked if it’s been frustrating with the new role, he did not shy away from answering. “Yes,” he said while speaking with The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes. This season, he has started 124 games, but only 111 have been complete games as an outfielder.